Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 52-53).

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A Ãgua à um recurso natural que tem sido usado em diferentes setores de atividade humana. Entretanto, muitas vezes, esta diversidade de uso tem gerado conflitos de usuÃrios, ou mesmo impactos ambientais. Para tentar normatizar estes usos e reduzir estes conflitos, principalmente, em Ãreas escassas como à o caso das regiÃes semiÃridas, foi aprovado o Plano Nacional de Recursos HÃdricos, que trata, basicamente, de Instrumento de GestÃo desses recursos naturais. Neste contexto, a concessÃo de outorga para uso dos corpos hÃdricos à um desses instrumentos tratado neste plano e que propÃe bases jurÃdicas para o disciplinamento desses usos. Este trabalho trata do estudo do desenvolvimento de uma metodologia, com base no Modelo de Streeter-Phelps, para analisar as relaÃÃes pertinentes entre a vazÃo de um rio natural e sua capacidade de receber cargas poluentes, em funÃÃo de um enquadramento de qualidade de suas Ãguas, previsto para cada tipo de uso. Considerando as caracterÃsticas do modelo usado, foram tomado com referÃncia para anÃlise, as concentraÃÃes de Demanda BioquÃmica de OxigÃnio (DBO), presente nos efluentes, bem como as concentraÃÃes de OxigÃnio Dissolvido (OD), presente nas Ãguas do rio em estudo. Os resultados mostram que para alcanÃar as condiÃÃes ideais para rios de classe especial, em regiÃes semiÃridas, como à o caso do Nordeste Brasileiro, hà necessidade de um tratamento prÃvio ao lanÃamento, de modo que impactos severos venham ser evitados.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 185-188). Also available via World Wide Web.

Volume of consumed antibiotics in developed countries have increased eminently in past few decades. These substances are excreted from human body in various abundance and end up in the sewage. Sewage water flow to sewage treatment plants to be partly cleaned and finaly discharged to surface waters. Pharmaceutical residuals leaking to water environment of recipients affect local biota. Impact of pharmaceutical residuals present in biological pond Čežárka was assessed in this study. Čežárka biological pond (2,6 ha) is a recipient of discharged waters of sewage treatment plant in Vodnany, the town with 7 000 inhabitants. Biological ponds are good solution for final treatment of wastewater discharged from sewage treatment plant efluents. The nutrients from wastewater may enter the food chain of pond ecosystem. In total 62 pharmaceuticals were identified in water of sewage pond. Fish exposed in the pond for 30, 90, 180, 320 and 360 days were compared with fish of control group. Growth, condition of fish and biomarkers including level of vitellogenin in blood plasma, lipid peroxidation rate, antioxidative activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase were compared. The study proved the environmental impact of STP dischanrge containing pharmaceutical residuals in fish. Significant adaptation of fish to environment of biological pond was observed after 90 days of exposure.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) originate from natural wetlands and are used for waste water treatment as an alternative to conventional treatment. This thesis was aimed at providing a literary summary of the types of house sewage water treatment plants and constructed wetlands used in the CR and abroad, of their hygienic aspects, functionality, treatment efficiency, expensiveness and the possibilities of their use in the conditions of the CR and their advantages and disadvantages. It also deals with a proposal of a suitable type of house CW for the conditions of the CR and a list of the necessary steps in construction of a house CW. Quite similar systems are being used for house sewage treatment in the Czech Republic and abroad {--} mostly septic tanks, ground mounds, constructed wetlands, active treatment plants and biodiscs. Alternative water treatment methods are generally not suitable for buildings having (now or in the future) the possibility of connection to municipal sewerage systems. They are on the other hand suitable for buildings not connected to sewerage systems or for seasonal objects, remote places and holiday houses with seasonal waste water production. A system with horizontal subsurface flow is mostly used as a CW in the Czech Republic. This CW type ensures sufficient removal of organic contamination and insoluble substances, but the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus removal is relatively low. However it is fully sufficient in the instance of low PE numbers, as the loading rate is usually low and the concentration of contaminants in the output water meets the prescribed limits. Foreign researches show that hybrid systems combining horizontal flow with vertical flow and with recirculation are more suitable for improving efficiency of nitrogen removal. Systems with vertical flow and intermittent waste water dosage showing particularly good results in ammoniac removal are also suitable for nitrogen removal. Special materials with higher iron, aluminium or calcium content are most suitable as filling of a constructed wetland or as additional filters or for improvement of phosphorus removal from waste water as they are able to reach efficiency of up to 90 %. In my thesis I came to a conclusion that a CW with horizontal subsurface flow is the most suitable type of house constructed wetland treatment for the conditions in the CR, mainly because it is the most frequently used and thus best proven CW type with sufficient efficiency of treatment for the substances required by standards.

A água doce no Brasil, assim como o seu consumo é extremamente importante para as diversas atividades criadas pelo ser humano. Por esta razão o consumo deste bem é muito grande e consequentemente, provocando o seu impacto. Os mananciais são normalmente usados para abastecimento doméstico, comercial, industrial e outros fins. Os estudos na área de ecologia de micro-organismos em águas (mananciais e esgoto) vêm sendo realizados com mais intensidade nos últimos anos. Nas últimas décadas foi introduzido o conceito de virioplâncton com base na abundância e diversidade de partículas virais presentes no ambiente aquático. O virioplâncton influencia muitos processos ecológicos e biogeoquímicos, como ciclagem de nutriente, taxa de sedimentação de partículas, diversidade e distribuição de espécies de algas e bactérias, controle de florações de fitoplâncton e transferência genética horizontal. Os estudos nesta área da Virologia molecular ainda estão muito restritos no país, bem como muito pouco se conhece sobre a diversidade viral na água no Brasil. / Freshwater in Brazil, as well as its consumption is extremely important for the various activities created by human being. For this reason the consumption of this good is very great and consequently, causing its impact. The sources are usually used for domestic, commercial, industrial and other purposes. Studies on the ecology of microorganisms in waters (freshwater and sewage) have been carried out more intensively in recent years. In recent decades the concept of virioplankton has been introduced based on the abundance and diversity of viral particles present in the aquatic environment. Virioplankton influences many ecological and biogeochemical processes, such as nutrient cycling, particle sedimentation rate, diversity and distribution of algal and bacterial species, control of phytoplankton blooms and horizontal gene transfer. Studies in this area of molecular Virology are still very restricted in the country, and very little is known about viral diversity in water in Brazil.

The increased concentration of greenhouse gases in theatmosphere, in particular CO2, is changing the Earth’s climate. Accordingto the Kyoto protocol, where the international community agreedon binding emission targets, developed countries are committedto reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The increased use ofbiomass in energy systems is an important strategy to reduce CO2emissions. The purpose of this thesis has been toanalyse the opportunities for Sweden to further reduce CO2emissions in the energy system, by rationallyutilising woody biomass energy. The characteristics of currentcommercially operating biofuel-based CHP plants in Sweden aresurveyed and systematically presented. A consistent andtransparent comprehensive reference base for system comparisonsis given. Furthermore, the fuel effectiveness and contributionto CO2reduction is calculated. The governmentalsubsidies of the CHP plants’investment, expressed as costof specific CO2reduction, appears to be low. The competitiveness of biomass-fuelled energy production inrelation to fossil-based production with carbon capture isanalysed, showing that the biomass-fuelled systems provide acompetitive option, in terms of cost of electricity andefficiencies. The remaining Swedish woody biofuel potential ofat least 100 PJ/yr is principally available in regions with abiomass surplus. Transportation is therefore required to enableits utilisation in a further national and international market.Refining the biofuel feedstock to pellets, or even furtherrefining to motor fuels (DME, methanol or ethanol) or power,could facilitate this transport. Different options for fuelrefining are studied and compared. The entire fuel chain, fromfuel feedstock to end users, is considered and CO2emissions are quantified. Substituting fuelpellets for coal appears to be the most costeffectivealternative and shows the largest CO2reduction per energy unit biofuel. Motor fuelsappear more costly and give about half the CO2reduction. Transportation of the upgraded biofuelpellets is highly feasible from CO2emissions point of view and does not constitute ahindrance for further utilisation, i.e. the pellets can betransported over long distances efficiently with only limitedemissions of CO2. Bioenergy utilisation has additional features forenvironmental improvement, apart from the CO2aspect. Waste heat from biofuel-based CHP can becost-effectively used in conjunction with sewage treatment. Theincoming sewage water to the nitrification process can bepreheated with the waste heat, and thereby substantiallyenhance the nitrification and the reduction of ammoniumnitrogen during the winter season. <b>Keywords:</b>CO2reduction, energy system, biofuel, CHP, refining,fuel pellets, ethanol, methanol, DME, fuel substitution, sewagewater, nitrification.

<p>The increased concentration of greenhouse gases in theatmosphere, in particular CO₂, is changing the Earth’s climate. Accordingto the Kyoto protocol, where the international community agreedon binding emission targets, developed countries are committedto reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The increased use ofbiomass in energy systems is an important strategy to reduce CO₂emissions. The purpose of this thesis has been toanalyse the opportunities for Sweden to further reduce CO₂emissions in the energy system, by rationallyutilising woody biomass energy. The characteristics of currentcommercially operating biofuel-based CHP plants in Sweden aresurveyed and systematically presented. A consistent andtransparent comprehensive reference base for system comparisonsis given. Furthermore, the fuel effectiveness and contributionto CO₂reduction is calculated. The governmentalsubsidies of the CHP plants’investment, expressed as costof specific CO₂reduction, appears to be low.</p><p>The competitiveness of biomass-fuelled energy production inrelation to fossil-based production with carbon capture isanalysed, showing that the biomass-fuelled systems provide acompetitive option, in terms of cost of electricity andefficiencies. The remaining Swedish woody biofuel potential ofat least 100 PJ/yr is principally available in regions with abiomass surplus. Transportation is therefore required to enableits utilisation in a further national and international market.Refining the biofuel feedstock to pellets, or even furtherrefining to motor fuels (DME, methanol or ethanol) or power,could facilitate this transport. Different options for fuelrefining are studied and compared. The entire fuel chain, fromfuel feedstock to end users, is considered and CO₂emissions are quantified. Substituting fuelpellets for coal appears to be the most costeffectivealternative and shows the largest CO₂reduction per energy unit biofuel. Motor fuelsappear more costly and give about half the CO₂reduction. Transportation of the upgraded biofuelpellets is highly feasible from CO₂emissions point of view and does not constitute ahindrance for further utilisation, i.e. the pellets can betransported over long distances efficiently with only limitedemissions of CO₂.</p><p>Bioenergy utilisation has additional features forenvironmental improvement, apart from the CO₂aspect. Waste heat from biofuel-based CHP can becost-effectively used in conjunction with sewage treatment. Theincoming sewage water to the nitrification process can bepreheated with the waste heat, and thereby substantiallyenhance the nitrification and the reduction of ammoniumnitrogen during the winter season.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>CO₂reduction, energy system, biofuel, CHP, refining,fuel pellets, ethanol, methanol, DME, fuel substitution, sewagewater, nitrification.</p>

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-77). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Utbyggnation av städer och allt större andel hårdgjorda ytor leder till problem med dagvattenhanteringen. Flödena blir snabbare samtidigt som större mängder än tidigare bildar avrinning och då är det viktigt att de befintliga systemen klarar av att hantera dem. Dagvatten från tak och hårdgjorda ytor och dräneringsvatten från källarfastigheter kan vara kopplat till spillvattennätet och leda till att vattenflödena i ledningarna vid stora regn kan bli betydligt större än de är dimensionerade för, med kapacitetsproblem som följd. En lösning som många VA-huvudmän har implementerat är att använda öppna dagvattenlösningar istället för att välja det mer kostnadskrävande alternativet att bygga ut ledningssystemet. Att koppla om stuprör, brunnar och dräneringsledningar och gräva diken för att leda om vattnet är både kostnads- och resurskrävande. Syftet var därför att undersöka om multikriterieanalys kan fungera som ett lämpligt verktyg för att allokera resurserna till de områden som ger mest nytta per satsad krona. Detta genom att ta fram en metodik för detta syfte och testa dess robusthet för att avgöra om den är lämplig att applicera eller om osäkerheterna i parametervärdena blir för stora för att några slutsatser ska kunna dras. Metodiken som togs fram testades på Bjursås, ett litet samhälle två mil utanför Falun, eftersom omfattande utredningar gjorts i området tidigare, vilket innebar att mycket data fanns att tillgå. Undersökningar gjordes av var mängderna kunde förväntas bli stora, var det fanns stor risk för källaröversvämningar och vilka områden som bidrog mest till bräddningar. Detta utvärderades tillsammans med förväntade åtgärdskostnader och en samlad bedömning gjordes av var nyttan per satsad krona bör bli störst. Stora osäkerheter återfanns i bedömningen. Slutsatsen blev att metoden kan fungera som stöd vid beslutsunderlag, men att den inte är tillräckligt robust för att kunna användas uteslutande utan att efterföljande utvärderingar och kritisk granskning av resultaten måste göras. Detta kan lämpligtvis ske genom en känslighetsanalys. För att resultaten ska utgöra ett användbart verktyg för VA-huvudmannen måste också kostnaderna utvärderas noggrannare än de har gjorts i den här studien. / Urbanization along with a greater amount of hardened surfaces affects the storm water management. When the flows get faster and larger amounts create runoff, it is crucial that the available systems are able to handle the water. Storm water from roofs and asphalt surfaces and drainage water can be connected to the sewage water pipelines and make the flows in the conduits at rainfall much greater than they are designed for, leading to capacity issues. Many municipalities have implemented open storm water solutions instead of choosing the more cost-ineffective way of expanding the conduit system. Reconnecting downspouts, wells and drainage pipelines and digging trenches to lead the water is both cost and resource demanding. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate whether multi criteria analysis can be used as an appropriate tool in order to allocate the resources to the most beneficial areas. This was done by developing a method for this aim and testing its robustness in order to determine if it is suitable to use in this context or if the uncertainties make the method too unreliable. The robustness in the method developed can be questioned since the uncertainties can be substantial. To be able to use this method, a lot of data is needed and the method needs to be updated relatively often in order to contain relevant information. It is recommended that a sensitivity analysis is performed along with the method, since the use of only one set of parameters can make the result relatively arbitrary. Using a Monte Carlo procedure with the uncertainties defined can reduce the time needed to measure and identify the values. The sensitivity analysis showed that the parameters that have the largest impact on the results are the number of residents living in every real estate with a basement, the catchment areas, the roughness parameters of the pipelines and the use of energy and chemicals in the system. In the future, the urbanization is expected to increase as well as the amount of rainfall and problems related to inflow and infiltration are expected to become more common. The hope is that the method used and its results will be useful for the municipalities’ future planning and to inspire to more studies on this topic.