Thesis (M.A.) (Development management) --University of Limpopo, 2010. / Gender equality in local water governance is currently envisaged as a necessary aspect for achieving efficient, effective and sustainable water resources management. Based on the premise that men and women exhibit socially and culturally determined differences in behavior, roles and responsibilities, the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy holds that gender concerns in water resources management, including in all decisions regarding planning, design, location, operation and maintenance have to be based on the recognition of their differences. However, giving the pragmatic effect on the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy within the Water Resources Management Sector has met with many challenges relating to structural issues, sustainability, the commitment of actors involved, and the whole range of aspects of attitudinal change, both at individual and collective levels. The study investigates the challenges involved in the application of the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy within the Water Resources Management Sector in the rural community of Mogodi Village in Limpopo Village. The study argues that the challenges involved in the application of the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy leads to virtual mismanagement of the water resources within rural communities as attested to by the Mogodi Village. The survey results from Mogodi Village proved that gender mainstreaming was not fully applied within the water resources management. Women do not have access to all the positions in the water committee and furthermore, they are not always consulted and if they get the chance to raise their concerns, they are not always taken into consideration. Additionally, the patriarchal tradition within the village has a great impact on the application of the Gender Mainstreaming Initiatives. Some of the principles of this tradition are that women are household caregivers and men are leaders. The roles that women perform within their homesteads do not allow them time to participate in the water resources management. This leaves the water resources management roles in the hands of men in the village. The study therefore concludes that the genuine benefits of the Gender Mainstreaming Strategy in the water resources management would not be realised as long as the context within which it is applied remains traditional in terms of the gender status quo. / Extrata Mine

Population growth, urbanization, degrading water quality, and climate change are making management of scarce water resources an increasingly difficult task for the domestic sector. It is recognized that in order to manage urban water resources demand management is requisite. Demand management has been experimented with in large cities of developing countries but continued focus on expanding supply overshadows its potential benefits and ultimate success. In order to manage demand, it must be measured and understood. Intermittent water services are prevalent in developing countries, but unmetered domestic water use under such conditions has not been carefully studied. This study conducted 1,149 household surveys in a small, growing, coastal city (population est. 35,645) in La Libertad, Peru. The objectives were to 1) characterize current household water use behaviors, perceptions and values as they vary among three user groups (two distinct unmetered intermittent water services and well users) and reveal the existing water use and potential household demand for water, and 2) propose demand management tactics applicable to conditions of the study site that may be generalizable to small, developing, cities. Survey results show daily per capita water use in the range of 35 to 90 L with more water being used by the group that receives water for a longer duration of time. The distribution of water was inequitable and, on average, households received water for less time than the service providers' reported duration. Demand is likely to grow due to increasing water-related infrastructure, established water behaviors, and a lack of understanding regarding regional scarcity and water conservation. Households are not satisfied with existing service conditions, particularly water quality, but due to an apparent distrust in their water providers are unwilling to pay for improvements. For domestic service to remain sustainable under the pressures of increasing water scarcity, demand management strategies, particularly education and awareness building, are likely achievable and should be adopted, complementary to supply-minded management.

<p>Please contact the author with any questions. A compressed tar.b2z file is attached with the groundwater model input files.</p> / <p>Wadi El Naturn, located in the Western Desert in northern Egypt, has been subject to significant groundwater degradation since the 1990s, attributed primarily to agricultural development. Information required to diagnose the drivers of groundwater degradation and assess management options in dryland environments like Wadi El Natrun is however, frequently sparse. This research presents an approach for modeling the impacts of dryland environmental change on groundwater in the context of sparse data. A focus is placed on understanding the potential impacts of conservation strategies in the context of climate change. Water use, hydrostratigraphic and groundwater flow data were collected from literature, monitoring records, satellite imagery and a survey of local landholders. MODFLOW-NWT was used to model the multi-layer aquifer system, and algorithms were developed in R to create realizations of groundwater recharge, and well-pumping at a monthly time-step from 1957 to 2011. The model was deemed to be reasonably capable of capturing the cumulative impact of environmental change over this historical period. A risk assessment approach was then used to assess the impact of climate change and conservation-focused management scenarios on groundwater locally over a 50-year future planning horizon. The optimization of irrigation systems and increased cultivation of drought/salt tolerant crops have the potential to significantly reduce the risk of groundwater depletion compared to an across-the-board 20% water use reduction scenario. The influence of groundwater pumping also outweighed that of climate change, and the most vulnerable water users/ecosystem were found to be the most exposed to groundwater degradation.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Master of Science / Civil Engineering / David R. Steward / With an increasing population, municipalities in the United States are struggling to secure safe, reliable water sources for future water demands. Alternative water sources are being considered to improve the overall water management picture. Wastewater reuse, reusing wastewater effluent for beneficial purposes, is an alternative water source that is gaining popularity in the United States. In this study a theoretical framework was developed to enable a region to quickly assess the feasibility of reusing wastewater for irrigation needs. Three criteria were established for the framework; they are, regulations and guidelines for reuse, adequate flow ratio, and cost benefit analysis. As a region moves through the framework and criteria a list of feasible wastewater facilities and end users are established. A model was developed for the cost benefit analysis based on regional input. As regulatory frameworks and economic factors evolve over time the model can be updated to assess how these changes will affect water reuse in a region. The model will provide a useful tool for a region to integrate wastewater reuse into the water resource management process. The Lower Arkansas River Basin (LARK) was highlighted by the Kansas Water Office as a region that should investigate the role of reuse in water conservation. Results from this report indicate 963 million gallons per year (MG/yr) of wastewater effluent could feasibly be used to irrigate 9 hole and 18 hole golf courses in the region. The results determined that any 18 hole golf course within a 15.9 mile radius of a wastewater treatment facility in the LARK could payback the capital costs for wastewater reuse within 10 years. This information is a useful tool for the region to start the discussion for implementing wastewater reuse in the region. The results from this report indicate wastewater reuse for golf course irrigation is economically feasible in the LARK. Establishing a safe reliable water source for the future is paramount to the future of Kansas. Future research is needed to determine how the wastewater diversion affects the environmental balance of the permitted discharge location.

<p> This dissertation is a study of two water management systems and their respective potential for adaptive change. It compares the principles of traditional common-pool resource communities with the policies and practices of contemporary acequias and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. A review of the biophysical environment and relevant water laws and institutions provides a historical and environmental perspective on how the two distinct systems evolved into their current forms. The respective systems' capacities to continue to function in their basic forms in the face of climate change are evaluated through the conceptual lenses of resilience theory and the adaptive change cycle. The severe and extended drought that New Mexico is experiencing is causing a sharpened focus on how to limit water use. Shortage sharing is a traditional practice in common-pool resource cultures, as are other measures to manage a limited and vital resource, including monitoring, sanctions, exclusion of free-riders, equity of use, and reliance on democratic institutions to ensure collective decisions. These principles and practices are present to varying degrees in both systems and provide solid bases upon which to innovate and adapt to new conditions. The challenge will be to mobilize the will to change sufficiently to adapt while honoring the cultural values represented in each system; in other words, to build resilience into the systems. Opportunities to do so are explored and evaluated for their potential positive effects and possible downsides</p>

Sediment accumulated on a lakebed archives information about past climate and changes in the regional environment. Previous studies (Burgess, 2007; Koff, 2011; Palmer, 2012) in the Northeast Arm of Lake Champlain, specifically Missisquoi Bay and Saint Albans Bay, showed a period (~9,400 - 8,600 yBP) of elevated organic matter deposition in both bays, indicating a productive event that pre-dated any possible anthropogenic influence. However, the record was abruptly cut off and any documentation representing the span of time leading up to this event was not found. The elevated organic matter levels were explained as being the result of a warm, dry environment that reduced lake level and promoted productivity within the bay. A new goal was formulated to lengthen the Holocene record for Missisquoi Bay (MSB) and Saint Albans Bay (SAB) in order to compare paleorecords and capture the span of time leading up to this highly productive event, possibly related to the Champlain Sea/Lake Champlain Transition (~10,000 yBP). One sediment core was taken from each bay as close to the original coordinates as the sediment cores obtained in previous studies (Koff, 2011; Palmer, 2012). The sediment cores were processed in the lab and sediment samples were tested for water content (WC), %C, %N, C:N, and diatom content. Each bay's sediment record consisted of a distinct marker representing lowest water level, separating a Champlain Sea unit at the bottom and an overlying Lake Champlain unit. A warming climate coupled with low lake level during this time may be the cause of the increase of productivity (%C) associated with the markers in both bays. Between ~8,600 - 9,400 yBP, a distinct marker represented evidence of a wetland in Saint Albans Bay before the onset of Lake Champlain. Diatom content in the wetland sediments indicated a generally shallow oligotrophic and alkaline body of water that shifted back and forth from brackish to freshwater. The record shows the wetland was eventually drowned as water level continued to rise, slowly transitioning into the Lake Champlain unit. Proxy results showed that internal processes within the lake continued to change in response to climatic and environmental drivers until present day conditions were reached. At ~9,400 yBP in Missisquoi Bay, there is an erosional unconformity between the Champlain Sea and Lake Champlain units, which corresponds to the low water levels also inferred from the SAB record during that time. After this unconformity, %C results show production within MSB fluctuated, similar to SAB, in response to changing climate and water levels until the present-day conditions of Lake Champlain were established. In sum, MSB and SAB each contain evidence of an ancient shoreline marker in different forms. Both markers indicate that lowest water levels occurred ~9,400 yBP and that lake level has risen ~7 - 8.5 meters since that time. The rise in lake level is associated with the transition into Lake Champlain. This Champlain Sea/Lake Champlain Transition lasted from ~9,400 yBP until ~8,600 yBP. Therefore, the oldest Lake sediment in the Northeast Arm of Lake Champlain is only 8,600 yBP.

This thesis endeavours to model a trip demand function for recreationalangling in Sweden, including the individual expected per-trip utility of regionalattributes. The analysis is conducted with the use of a Random Utility Model (RUM)for the estimation of ‘site-specific’ utility, and a negative binomial logit model fortrip demand. The site quality variable is stated as expected catch-rates (CR) definedin terms of three different specifications: sample mean CR, individually perfectlyforesighted CR, and an econometrically predicted individual CR. Results indicatethat the econometrically estimated individual catch-rate specification performs wellas an explanatory variable both when modelling discrete site choice and trip demand,while the sample mean and perfectly foresighted CR specifications provide withunintuitive and insignificant parameter values. The inclusive value of the regionchosen by the angler, estimated with the RUM, was subsequently found to be asignificant predicting variable for the number of recreational angling trips conductedby Swedish anglers.

Student Number : 0218517V - MSc dissertation - School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies - Faculty of Science / Rapid population growth, combined with an expanding economy and tourist industry has lead to a water resource crisis in the United Arab Emirates. The water crisis includes serious difficulties in meeting basic needs, particularly in the agricultural sector, which is a dominating water consumer in the country. All economic sectors are finding it increasingly difficult meeting their water needs, which is primarily manifested by the natural scarcity of water recourses, depletion of groundwater, low efficiency of water use and low coverage of water and sanitation services. This dissertation presents a vision for a comprehensive Earth Information System that goes beyond the limited collection of, say, meteorological data, but seeks to create a national database of past, present and future data of the many related earth system components of both natural and human origin, all of which play a role in defining the hydrologic cycle, and ultimately, the state of water resources. This system is being motivated by the fact that most of the water resource assessments in the UAE cannot take advantage of such datasets because the data are either not collected, too fragmented, or are not part of a national archive that is accessible to the research community and the general public. This system will be developed at the highest level of the national government, through the Office of His Highness the President and the office of the Department of Water Resource Studies which will seek to provide improved water resource assessment using modern database and analytical methods, that will support the development of better studies and new, modern institutional networks and authorities.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-03-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:01:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_masc_dr_jabo.pdf: 639507 bytes, checksum: 3b739b90dc6d52c864d0ec1153418524 (MD5) / Os recursos hídricos, que estão sendo degradados ao longo da civilização e com o processo de globalização, necessitam de estudos que irão contribuir na preservação e no uso de maneira racional do meio ambiente. Uma alternativa consistente é o ensino de Educação Ambiental de modo interdisciplinar. Visando à problemática ambiental e o manejo do solo, os objetivos desta pesquisa foram: desenvolver atividades teóricas e práticas interdisciplinares de educação ambiental na unidade territorial da microbacia hidrográfica do córrego Lanoso e analisar o material pedagógico de Educação Ambiental do 3º ano do Ensino Médio, do Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro – Câmpus Uberaba. A microbacia localiza-se nas coordenadas geográficas 19°39‟19‟‟S e 47°57‟27”W no Município de Uberaba (MG) e possui uma área total de 2.174,31 ha. O trabalho foi realizado com estudantes da 3ª série do Ensino Médio e Ensino Médio e Técnico do Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro – Câmpus Uberaba, em 2009 e 2010. A partir da análise do livro didático com o intuito de conhecer os conteúdos relativos ao uso e ocupação de solo e recursos hídricos, elaborou-se um questionário, que posteriormente foi aplicado para verificar o conhecimento dos estudantes em relação aos conteúdos abordados em anos anteriores. Realizada esta verificação, foram ministradas aulas teóricas e práticas interdisciplinares, com os educadores de Geografia e de Português, sobre os conceitos abordados no livro didático. Depois das aulas teóricas e práticas, foi aplicado o mesmo questionário para verificar a construção do conhecimento. Os resultados evidenciam que os estudantes que cursam o Ensino Médio e Técnico inicialmente apresentam maior conhecimento em determinados conteúdos, mas após as aulas teóricas e práticas, os estudantes do... / Water resources that are being polluted along the civilization and by the process of globalization, need study in order to contribute to preserve and to use in a rational way the environment. One the alternative is consisted to teach interdisciplinary of environmental education and land use. Aiming at environmental issues, the objectives of this research were to develop theoretical and practical activities by an interdisciplinary environmental education in the territorial unit of the watershed to analyze the teaching materials for Environmental Education in the 3rd year of high school, of the Federal Institute of Triângulo Mineiro - Campus Uberaba. The watershed is located between the geographic coordinates 19°39'19'' S and 47°57'27 W at the Uberaba County (MG), and has a total area of 2174.31 ha. The study was conducted with students in the 3rd grade of High School and High School and Technical of the Federal Institute Triângulo Mineiro - Campus Uberaba in 2009 and 2010. The methodology was based on the analysis of textbooks in order to have knowledge of how the content was submitted relating to water resources, soil use and occupation. It then drew up a questionnaire which was later used to check students' knowledge in relation to the contents analyzed. Performed this check, interdisciplinary lectures were given, with the teacher of geography and Portuguese. After the theoretical and practical classes, the same questionnaire was applied to verify the construction of knowledge. The results show that students who attend high school and initially have a higher technical knowledge on specific topics, but after the theoretical and practical classes, the students of high school showed equivalent knowledge related to others. Therefore, the theoretical and practical activities interdisciplinary in environmental... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

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