Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / The issue of migrants’ access to drinkable water is a developmental issue. From a fundamental research view point, this study aims to explore the circumstances in which migrants access water across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of South Africa. The study examines the inequalities that may arise in the context of piped water access, different water sources, other alternative water, reliability of water, and closely related issues focusing specifically on internal migrants in general. The study focuses on demographic characteristics such as age, gender, education, employment status, level of income, duration of residence, province of residence and ethnic groups. Bringing together the demographic variables and water related variables, the study captures the determinants of water access by comparing metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Using the 2011 Census secondary data requested from Statistics South Africa, cross tabulation and bivariate statistical analysis by means of SPSS software was performed.

This thesis studies antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolated from city water distribution systems.

Harmful algal blooms in surface water supply systems pose a threat to public health and are increasing in both frequency and geographical distribution. Cyanobacteria can contribute to taste and odor issues and potentially release harmful cyanotoxins into the water. Several treatment methods are currently employed to control these blooms, including physical separation and chemical pre-oxidation. However, existing oxidation options can be costly; increase the release of intracellular material causing the formation of disinfection byproducts; or disrupt coagulation and filtration processes. This study investigated ferrate (Fe(VI)) as an alternative to other oxidants by measuring its effect on algae cells. Fe(VI) has several advantages as an oxidant, including a high oxidation potential, a low potential for harmful disinfection byproduct production, and formation of Fe(III) - which can potentially be beneficial for downstream treatment processes. Bench scale studies were conducted with laboratory prepared waters containing the common cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa to examine the interactions between Fe(VI) and algae. The effects of ferrate oxidation on algae were characterized by particle counts, UV254 absorbance, total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and total nitrogen. Ferrate decomposition was also monitored. Results showed that Fe(VI) lysed algal cells under some conditions, but further oxidation of released organic matter is possible at some doses. Additionally, some coagulation benefits were observed through an overall decrease in total particle counts and an increase in particle sizes. In general, the results indicate that Fe(VI) could be a possible alternative to other oxidants for water utilities during harmful algal blooms; however, the final fate of resulting organic matter and the potential for disinfection byproduct formation should be further studied.

This dissertation aims to investigate how architecture can improve water literacy and, thus, water conservation and security, by bringing the user closer to the building’s water processes and systems. The programmatic function of the building is an urban living room. Here, the dwellers of the adjacent social housing development – about 3000 people – will be provided amenities for mostly recreational purposes. Furthermore, the tens of thousands of people who travel into Pretoria CBD daily for various government services, will be provided with a place to pause, linger, and perhaps have something to eat. The architectural exploration aims to empower the user through the provision of basic water services and surrounding secondary services, whilst at the same time enhancing the everyday user’s relationship with, and reverence of, water. The two main water resources that will be focused on are rain roof water and storm water. In an urban context where storm water runoff is currently treated as a destructive force and the water is discarded as quickly as possible from the city, the project will endeavor to harness this resource and utilise it to enhance the architecture. Similarly, roof rainwater will also be collected and utilised. The project will invite water into the building in various ways that enhance the climatic conditions within the building. Unlike in the traditional manner of waterproofing and keeping the water out of the building, these enhancing processes will be made visible to the users of the building in order to increase their understanding. This dissertation endeavors to add to the large body of research into the global quest for water security, underpinning itself in the context of the Marabastad, Pretoria. / Mini Dissertation (MArch(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

Rocky Mount is a 35-acre State Historic Site in Washington County, TN dating to the late 1700s when it served as the First Capitol of the Southwest Territory of the United States. In Fall 2021, Rocky Mount acquired an adjacent tract which includes several water sources: an artesian spring, a ditch with running water, and a cattle pond. A residential spring located on a neighboring property flows along an eastern property line. The purpose of this research was to assess the hydrologic resources of Rocky Mount’s new addition to 1) determine compliance with state water quality standards; and 2) identify subsurface hydrologic connections between water sources. In winter 2022, we sampled the four water sources for pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria during five site visits. Mean values for each parameter at each site were compared to state water quality standards and sites were assessed for similarity using the Kruskal Wallis non-parametric Analysis of Variance. In this study, none of the four sites met the state standard for drinking water due to presence of E. coli (drinking water limits E. coli to <1 CFU/100mL). However, all sites were well below the E. coli threshold for recreational water (<126 CFU/100mL). Only one site, the residential spring, was found to meet standards for recreational use for all water quality parameters. All other sites exceeded recreational use limits for pH (high alkalinity). Two sites, the cattle pond and the ditch, also exceeded recreational limits for turbidity. Kruskal Wallis test results indicated significant differences in water chemistry between sites for all parameters. Pairwise comparisons revealed differences between the residential spring and all other sites, suggesting different groundwater sources. The water quality findings will be helpful in future land use planning at the Rocky Mount Historic Site.

Excess fluoride in groundwater used for drinking can pose serious health hazards, especially in poor, rural areas of the developing world lacking water treatment. The World Health Organization recommends a maximum fluoride contaminant level of 1.5 mg/L in drinking water [1]. Over 200 million people in low- and middle-income countries currently drink groundwater over that limit [2]. Current field detection of fluoride typically uses HACH kits, with several groups developing smartphone based alternatives [3]. These methods are based on colorimetry. The HACH kit is limiting because appropriate training is required, results are sensitive to competing ion contamination and chlorine, the glassware must be clean, and repetition is needed to ensure reliability [4]. The use of a smartphone for in-field detection of fluoride is promising and takes a strong step towards quick, easy, reliable, and portable fluoride detection. Our research takes the concept of a portable device one step further by using a fundamentally different, and simpler, mode of detection. We have demonstrated the use of optical fibers as an alternative, non-colourimetric fluoride detection method. The tip of a single mode optical fiber is coated with a thin film of Al and is immersed in an aqueous fluoride solution. The reaction between fluoride and the Al coating changes internal reflection proportional to fluoride concentration which is measured by a photodetector as an output voltage. We made great steps in optimizing the methods, materials, and code required for this sensor. Additionally, we built a device to allow approximate standardization of Al thickness as a function of the distance from the target and time of sputtering. We established the best practical thickness of Al coating, improved repeatability between sputter deposition events, and implemented an optical switch into the experimental set-up. / Graduate / 2021-07-28

Jordan is among the poorest countries in the world with respect to water resources. Water scarcity in Jordan is an alarming problem that can jeopardize the economy and the stability of the country. It is a multidimensional problem caused by many factors such as the fluctuation of annual precipitation rates, the rapid change in population caused by the refugee influx from neighbouring countries, and the economic situation of the country. The water scarcity problem is aggravated by limitations in water management. This research investigated the shortcomings of water management that contribute to water scarcity. It involves a literature review, a survey questionnaire and interviews. These methods aim to assess the current challenges that prompt water scarcity, understand the water management shortcomings and their causes, identify the existing government solutions for water scarcity, and propose a sustainable solution for this problem. The research finds that water management in Jordan has several shortcomings such as the lack of monitoring and controlling water resources and preventing illegal drilling, the incapability of the government to reduce the non-revenue water as a result of aged water network and water theft, and illegal practices of the agricultural and industrial sectors. This research proposed a solution that aim to mitigate water scarcity in Jordan by enhancing several management practices. Moreover, the proposed solution calls for efficient managerial practices to be adopted by decision makers and the public. I argue that the proposed solutions are sustainable and cheaper than the existing government solutions that rely on searching for new water resources rather than improving water management.

No description available.

The current pressure on water bodies is a structural problem that may compromise the satisfaction of future water demand and the good status of the natural environment. Activities such as wastewater reuse or desalination provide an additional source of water resources to meet demand without the need to increase natural water abstractions. In addition, reuse also contributes to improving water quality by limiting abstractions and reducing discharges. However, reuse has not been widespread as a source of supply in resource-rich contexts. In resource-abundant areas, the high cost of reusing water is a strong disincentive to its use, which puts the focus on reducing pollution through discharge without assessing the potential of reuse as an additional source of resources. The use of reclaimed water has a great margin for development that should be exploited in the coming years to obtain a guarantee of supply and an improvement in the environmental quality of water in the current context of increasing scarcity. However, the financial and environmental situation of reuse requires the involvement of the public sector. In this work, two instruments with the potential to facilitate the development of reuse have been studied. The first of these is photovoltaic self-consumption, in order to reduce the cost of energy consumption of wastewater treatment plants, given that this is their main financial operating cost. This possibility, however, has shown little capacity to reduce these costs since, except in the case of the floating photovoltaic installation, the cost of electricity from self-consumption is higher or similar to the market price. If we consider the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions derived from self-consumption, this alternative is much more competitive. The situation is, once again, of an activity that presents financial losses and environmental benefits derived from the current excess of emissions. The responsibility lies with the public sector in the same way as in the case of reuse. Water tariffs, as one of the main revenues from water treatment, is an instrument that can be evaluated with a view to increasing revenues through an increase in the price of water. The results obtained show large differences in the impact of such an increase depending on the region but make it clear that the potential for additional revenue from this possibility is small. This analysis has also shown that there is a problem in the current tariffs that reduces their effectiveness by not valuing the type of household. The problem lies not in the structure of the tariff or the number of household members, but in the characteristics of the household. By not taking these into account and calculating the bill without these details, the tariffs are not fully effective. In conclusion, both reuse and photovoltaic self-consumption are beneficial activities for society, but the financial costs involved in their implementation require the involvement of a public sector with a reduced capacity to increase current revenues.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Engineering, 2019 / Water is the basic necessity for all living organisms. About, five million people specifically children are dying each year due to dehydration or use of toxin infected water around the world. In South Africa approximately seventeen percent of the population do not have access to safe drinking water. Considering all of these challenges it is evident that monitoring the quality of water is important for providing safe and clean water. Several researchers have shown that the parameters related to the quality of drinking water can be monitored effectively in the field. To accurately determine the quality of water it needs to be tested for many parameters. Measuring all possible parameters can be a daunting task. It is very costly and time consuming at the same time. There is also research available in which researchers have proposed remote monitoring of water quality based on fewer parameters in a given water sample to conclude whether or not the given sample was safe for drinking. This has met with limited success. There is however very limited or no scientific evidence available to validate the effectiveness of the selected fewer parameters to determine the quality of drinking water. The research presented in this dissertation proposes a list of fewer parameters that are monitored to determine the quality of water. The effectiveness of those parameters in determining the quality of drinking water has been verified by conducting a detailed analysis on a number of water samples in a laboratory environment. The research has also proposed a system that is capable of monitoring those parameters remotely. This enables the water supplying authorities to determine the basic quality of water without testing it in the laboratory environment resulting in a decreased time and lower cost. / TL (2020)