Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2007. / Title from title screen (site viewed Oct. 10, 2007). PDF text: xvii, 300 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.) UMI publication number: AAT 3258741. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agricultural Economics / Jeffrey M. Peterson / Water scarcity is already a critical issue in many regions across the world and in many places water supplies are likely to be further threatened by climate change (Bates et al., 2008). Climate change will affect water availability in these areas both directly and indirectly. The direct effects come about because increased temperature (accompanied by changes in wind, humidity, and solar radiation) may increase evaporative losses from surface water bodies, and also because reduced precipitation lowers the rate of water inflows. In the case of groundwater, these factors will reduce the rate of aquifer recharge (Bates et al., 2008). The indirect effects arise from the biophysical impacts of climate change on vegetation, which are induced from rising temperatures, changing precipitation regimes, and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. As a result of climate change, significant changes are expected in the hydrological cycle. This research is focused in how climate change can affect crop, land, and water allocation over time. The specific issue of this research comes from the following question: Is climate change likely to have a significant impact on the effectiveness of different water conservation policies in the High Plains aquifer region? This study is focused on the American High Plains, one of the most important water-scarce agricultural regions in North America. The study region for this research is a 31-county area overlying the Ogallala aquifer in western Kansas. This region encompasses approximately the western third of Kansas. Across these counties, the estimated remaining usable lifetime for aquifer water ranges from 50 to over 200 years (KGS), representing the range of water available in various parts of the aquifer. A Positive Mathematical Programming (PMP) model (Howitt, 1995) was developed and calibrated to land- and water-use data in the thirty one county area for a base period of 2000-2008. The PMP simulation uses inputs of price conditions and the aquifer level in a given year to predict the acreages planted to each of the major crops and the water use by crop. Decision makers are assumed to maximize profits, given the limited availability of water and arable land. The major crops in the model include wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, and alfalfa; the vast majority of historical planted acreage in the case counties is comprised of these five crops. The model was run for each of the case regions after calibrating the PMP model to data from 2000-2008. Calibration ensures that the model predictions fall within a small tolerance of the base period observations. This step avoids the problem of over-specialization (where the model places all of the acreages under one or two of the most profitable crops), and gives realistic acres and water use figures with which to work. The results suggest that the effects of the use of water conservation policies such as water use restriction and permanent conversion to dryland crops have positive effects on the trends of the different variables studied. With the implementation of these two policies, lower levels of total water use and higher levels of saturated thickness result but with a consequence of lower levels of net returns. However, the positive effects are lower in almost all cases if the effects of climate change on the same policies are taken into consideration. The scenarios of higher levels of temperature and lower precipitation levels projected for the region imply a greater demand for water for irrigated crops that results in lower levels of saturated thickness and simultaneously lower levels of net returns.

Doctor of Philosophy / Environmental Design and Planning / Timothy D. Keane / Kenya has been adversely affected by soil erosion due to population growth, changes in land use and land cover, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Issues related to land degradation cost the Kenyan government approximately $390 million or 3 percent of the country’s GDP yearly (Government of Kenya, 2013). Despite extensive land degradation, many attempts to encourage the use of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been unsuccessful. The study focuses on Merigi Ward, Kenya. Merigi Ward lies within the Mara River Basin (MRB), an ecologically and economically important river basin that has experienced extensive erosion problems. Increased agricultural activities driven by population growth in the area and changes in land use and land cover have degraded the landscape. SWC practices are greatly needed to mitigate the effects of erosion and conserve the natural resources within the MRB. Past studies suggest that social capital may increase the adoption of SWC practices (Knowler & Bradshaw, 2007; Nyangena, 2008). This study defines social capital as the groups and networks, trust and reciprocity, formal and informal rules, and information that informs the interactions among persons that lead to collective action. Twenty-five smallholder farmers within Merigi Ward were interviewed and the relationship between the adoption of SWC practices and social capital was explored through a qualitative analysis. Additionally, the MRB is home to the Mau Mara Serengeti Sustainable Water Initiative (MaMaSe). The MaMaSe initiative is a public private partnership (P3) with the goal to promote sustainable water use, economic growth, and environmental conservation within the basin. The effect the MaMaSe initiative had on the level of social capital amongst the study participants was also investigated. Findings suggest that social capital is an important aspect of SWC adoption in Merigi Ward. Groups and networks provide farmers with implementation support and information. Particularly, the local farmers’ cooperative provides farmers with implementation assistance and links (bridging capital) to experts at the MaMaSe initiative and the Ministry of Agriculture. Strong bonding capital works in the favor of this community allowing for high levels of trust. Thus, farmers collaborate to help one another implement practices and exchange information, materials, and experiences. In general, social capital has helped facilitate better environmental conservation awareness and the use of SWC practices. The largest impact the MaMaSe initiative had on the community’s social capital was expanding networks (particularly bridging and linking capital) and providing in depth information and guidelines for SWC practice use. The P3 has also helped the farmers integrate environmental conservation into their daily lives and has helped promote a shared understanding of the importance of conservation. The findings of this study will help environmental conservation professionals understand how to use social capital to strengthen natural resource management.

Orientador: Iveraldo dos Santos Dutra / Banca: Flavia Thomaz Verechia Pereira / Banca: Marcia Marinho / Resumo: A preocupação com os problemas ambientais tem se tornando um tema muito abordado. Dentre essas preocupações está aquela associada às degradações da qualidade da água. Essa degradação faz com que ocorra o processo de eutrofização, que é o acúmulo de nutrientes como nitrogênio e fósforo, que causam florações de algas, nas quais as mais conhecidas são as cianobactérias. A presença dessas na água de dessedentação de bovinos pode ter como consequência danos à saúde dos animais. Embora não existem relatos da ocorrência de intoxicações em bovinos no país, cada vez mais se observa a presença de situações de risco no meio pecuário. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar a presença de cianobactérias potencialmente patogênicas em água de dessedentação de bovinos e descrever alguns parâmetros físico-químicos (pH, temperatura e oxigênio dissolvido) nos locais de coleta. As coletas foram feitas em propriedades rurais de munícipios como Brasilândia - MS, Guararapes - SP, Lavínia - SP, Nova Crixás - GO e Aruanã - GO. A água foi coletada com garrafas tipo âmbar, utilizando o reagente lugol para preservação das amostras. As análises foram feitas através de microscópicos óptico. Dentre as amostras, foram encontradas duas cianobactérias produtoras de toxinas nos municípios de Brasilândia e Lavínia, sendo elas as do gênero Merismopedia e Microcystis. Os parâmetros tiveram valores compatíveis para a ocorrência do processo de eutrofização. A presença de cianotoxinas revela a possibilidade de ocorrência de problemas sanitários nos bovinos mantidos em sistemas de produção em que a água de dessedentação esteja contaminada / Abstract: Concern with environmental problems has become a subject much discussed. Among these concerns is that associated with the degradation of water quality. This degradation occurs makes the process of eutrophication, which is the accumulation of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that cause algal blooms, in which the best known are the cyanobacteria. The presence of these in water watering cattle could result in damage to the health of animals. Although there are no reports of intoxication occurring in cattle in the country, increasingly observed the presence of risk situations among livestock. Therefore, the goal of this study was to verify the presence of potentially pathogenic cyanobacteria in water of watering cattle and describe some physical and chemical parameters (pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen) in the sampling sites. The collections were made on farms in towns like, Brasilândia - MS, Guararapes - SP, Lavínia - SP, Nova Crixás - GO and Aruanã - GO. The water was collected in amber bottles type using lugol reagent for preservation of samples. Analyses were performed using optical microscopy. Among the samples, two were found cyanobacteria produce toxins that the municipalities of Brasilândia and Lavínia, and they are of the genus Microcystis and Merismopedia. The parameters have compatible values for the occurrence of eutrophication process. The presence of cyanotoxins reveals the possibility of health problems in cattle kept in production systems where the water is contaminated watering / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-09-01Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:55:53Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_ac_me_araca.pdf: 646131 bytes, checksum: d293972f9a5f2f20cce619a757ca0616 (MD5) / A preocupação com os problemas ambientais tem se tornando um tema muito abordado. Dentre essas preocupações está aquela associada às degradações da qualidade da água. Essa degradação faz com que ocorra o processo de eutrofização, que é o acúmulo de nutrientes como nitrogênio e fósforo, que causam florações de algas, nas quais as mais conhecidas são as cianobactérias. A presença dessas na água de dessedentação de bovinos pode ter como consequência danos à saúde dos animais. Embora não existem relatos da ocorrência de intoxicações em bovinos no país, cada vez mais se observa a presença de situações de risco no meio pecuário. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar a presença de cianobactérias potencialmente patogênicas em água de dessedentação de bovinos e descrever alguns parâmetros físico-químicos (pH, temperatura e oxigênio dissolvido) nos locais de coleta. As coletas foram feitas em propriedades rurais de munícipios como Brasilândia – MS, Guararapes – SP, Lavínia – SP, Nova Crixás – GO e Aruanã – GO. A água foi coletada com garrafas tipo âmbar, utilizando o reagente lugol para preservação das amostras. As análises foram feitas através de microscópicos óptico. Dentre as amostras, foram encontradas duas cianobactérias produtoras de toxinas nos municípios de Brasilândia e Lavínia, sendo elas as do gênero Merismopedia e Microcystis. Os parâmetros tiveram valores compatíveis para a ocorrência do processo de eutrofização. A presença de cianotoxinas revela a possibilidade de ocorrência de problemas sanitários nos bovinos mantidos em sistemas de produção em que a água de dessedentação esteja contaminada / Concern with environmental problems has become a subject much discussed. Among these concerns is that associated with the degradation of water quality. This degradation occurs makes the process of eutrophication, which is the accumulation of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that cause algal blooms, in which the best known are the cyanobacteria. The presence of these in water watering cattle could result in damage to the health of animals. Although there are no reports of intoxication occurring in cattle in the country, increasingly observed the presence of risk situations among livestock. Therefore, the goal of this study was to verify the presence of potentially pathogenic cyanobacteria in water of watering cattle and describe some physical and chemical parameters (pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen) in the sampling sites. The collections were made on farms in towns like, Brasilândia - MS, Guararapes - SP, Lavínia - SP, Nova Crixás – GO and Aruanã - GO. The water was collected in amber bottles type using lugol reagent for preservation of samples. Analyses were performed using optical microscopy. Among the samples, two were found cyanobacteria produce toxins that the municipalities of Brasilândia and Lavínia, and they are of the genus Microcystis and Merismopedia. The parameters have compatible values for the occurrence of eutrophication process. The presence of cyanotoxins reveals the possibility of health problems in cattle kept in production systems where the water is contaminated watering

M.Ing. (Civil Engineering) / In South Africa water is considered to be a scarce resource, whichshould be used effectively. By using scheduling, the Agricultural sector can help to alleviate the burden on this resource. The determination of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) or potential evapotranspiration (PET), form an integral part of any scheduling model. Four methods for the determination of ETo was investigated, and their advantages and disadvantages singled out. The combination method was found to be the best method, because it make use of a mechanistic approach, and also take into account all the factors influencing evaporation. The SWB program's Priestley-Taylor and the FAO combination methods for the determination of PET was compared. Wheather data for Lions River, Pretoria, Rietrivier and Stellenbosch was used in the comparison. The correlation between the methods was good, especially after the initial difference was reduced, by multiplying the Priestley-Taylor method with a constant. The SWB program was used to simulate wheat growth. Data for the growth simulation of cultivar SST86, was supplied by the Institute for Soil, Climate and Water. The comparison between measured and simulated data are relatively good and could be further refmed. Data for use in growth models are at present being accumulated for peanuts, tobacco and maize.

Purpose: There is a worldwide movement towards sustainability. A stepping-stone towards a sustainability conscience population starts in the education of the younger generation. Focusing on improving sustainability education will shift and shape youths' interests and lifestyles into an educated community that will work sustainably. A sustainability conscience community will continue to make moral sustainable decisions in their future endeavors. The gap between theory and practice of sustainability is substantial. Educational institutions must be the leaders in this subject to mold future generations’ incoming leaders into sustainability conscious critical thinkers. Current environmental issues such as climate change, CO2 Emissions, poverty and so on must impact these educational institutions to make sustainability education a priority in its curriculum. Addressing this problem requires a holistic approach which integrates sustainability education earlier on to grasp further understanding of sustainability actions in higher education and in society. Sustainability education exists in all levels. Although, sustainability education is much more prominent in higher education institutions as opposed to Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. Consequently, less students are prepared with the desired sustainability knowledge needed in higher education and students' future careers to instill in their disciplines since behavior is achieved through repetitive actions that were not set as a foundation earlier in their education. Approach: There were two approaches in this research. The first research approach was conducting a survey in 120 students, half of them in secondary education and the other half in higher education. The survey was formatted to analyze three different questions: 1) whether students in high school and higher education knew about sustainability 2) whether students' lifestyle consisted of pro-environmental actions, 3) and whether they learned to perform these actions in secondary education or higher education. The second approach was to create an educational tool to implement sustainability behavioral change strategies in their everyday lifestyles. Findings: Study found that most students are aware about sustainability. However, most students engage in pro-environmental actions in higher education because they started learning about them in higher education. Therefore, although most secondary education students are aware about sustainability, they aren't engaging in pro-environmental actions. In conclusion, a sustainability toolkit was created based on behavioral change strategies to reduce water usage, CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and waste output in their school and everyday lifestyles. Value: The efforts of sustainability in Higher Education have been clear in most recent years, although, there is still much resistance to change, transform and reimagine society and education for sustainability. The future of life and social world on Earth is in jeopardy since poverty, climate change, and lack of peace is occurring worldwide. Sustainability education must respond and act on this challenge subsequently to respect all forms of life and future generations. The mission of the sustainability toolkit is to create a pedagogy to assist educational institutions and communities to develop the skills and knowledge to work sustainably.

Growing populations, urbanization, environmental awareness with resultant regulations and water scarcity have resulted in a search for alternative water sources. Municipal wastewater reclamation and reuse is a necessity in these conditions because it is a water source that is available throughout the year. It can reduce the demand for source water and could be treated at lower costs to the required water quality requirements of the intended use. South Africa especially the Gauteng Province is subjected to the above mentioned stressors but lacks a holistic approach to wastewater reclamation and reuse as a practical and viable solution. Furthermore, the lack of characterization parameters as well as advanced wastewater treatment methods and the viability assessments of the municipal wastewater generated in the South Gauteng catchment, has led to loss of potential water resource in the province. Therefore the current research was initiated as a baseline study to investigate the feasibility of municipal wastewater reclamation and reuse in the South Gauteng catchment. The specific objectives were to 1) assess the worldwide practices of wastewater reuse, 2) apply influent and effluent data analysis and make recommendations on the type of reuse application available for the Southern Gauteng municipal wastewater treatment effluent and to 3) assess the viability of tertiary treatment technologies as best fit options available for different reuse options required for the study area. To achieve the above mentioned objectives a literature review was undertaken to assess worldwide water reuse practices and how they can be used in the study area to utilize the generated wastewater effluent. Influent and effluent data of four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Sedibeng district municipality (SDM), three in the Emfuleni local municipality and one in the Midvaal local municipality, was used to assess the viability of water reuse. Available worldwide aggregate, nutrient, ionic and microbiological water reuse standards and criteria for potable, agricultural and industrial use were used to characterize the Sedibeng WWTPs for water reclamation. Wastewater reclamation and reuse is broadly defined as collecting treated or untreated wastewater and using it for a purpose different from what it was used for previously. Recycling, on the other hand, is using water, for the same purpose repeatedly (DWA, 2013a). Water reuse is practiced in countries such as the Western United States, Australia, Singapore, Namibia, Mediterranean countries and Japan for potable use, irrigation and industrial purposes. South Africa, having laid the foundation of wastewater reuse in Namibia, currently practices direct potable reuse (DPR) in the Beaufort West municipality as well as internal water recycling in the power, steel, petrochemical, paper and pulp industry. Water reuse standards and criteria are set based on regional differences of water availability, public health protection, monitoring feasibility, industry types and the reuse purpose. Risk assessment that includes among others a multi-barrier approach, water quality criteria objectives and acceptance determines treatment technology selection. Tertiary treatment technology such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation processes especially UV/H2O2 are used in water reclamation plants after preliminary treatment of secondary effluent. The four SDM WWTPs effluent, which was over 220 ML/d, the results show, mostly use activated sludge process and have water quality determinants complying with the design criteria for advanced treatment in water reuse. This effluent meets the Namibian Goreangab and Beaufort West Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) multi-barrier influent design criteria for DPR in most aggregate, nutrient and ionic parameters except microbiological parameters. Parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved solids and ammonia and alkalinity were non-compliant for which this could signify incomplete activated sludge process. This shows the importance of secondary treatment as one of the barriers in the multi barrier approach. Even though membrane treatment of this effluent to improve these parameters and microbiological quality is possible effective secondary treatment as one of the barriers is important to prevent downstream membrane fouling. Depending on this water quality the water will be suitable for indirect potable reuse (IPR) with blending, industrial cooling, heat exchange and dust suppression as recommended uses. Municipal effluent, which could reduce potable water demand, is currently not used in the study area’s power generation and steel making industries Eskom’s Lethabo power station and ArcelorMittal respectively. This is even though, advanced water treatment processes such as reverse osmosis, exist for both organization’s internal wastewater recycling. The reclaimed municipal effluent can be introduced to moderate water quality processes such as cooling systems, heat removal, waste handling and washing in both industries in the study area. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) with water intensive user industries incorporating municipal secondary effluent in current and future infrastructure plans to find viable solutions as part of their water use licensing conditions. These PPPs would include the national Department Water and Sanitation (DWS), Sedibeng district municipality, Eskom, ArcelorMittal and Rand Water the bulk water utility in the study area. An in depth study of water reuse public perception, cost of water reuse, establishing purpose specific reuse guidelines and water quality monitoring and management plan for study area is recommended before implementation. Monitoring, which is one of the barriers in risk abatement, should include for the study area emerging pathogens, inorganic and organic contaminants of concern such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Centre for Wildlife Management / Unrestricted

The City of Dallas Environmental Education Initiative (EEI) is a hands-on, inquiry-based, K-12 water conservation education program that teaches students concepts about water and specific water conservation behaviors. Few descriptions and evaluations, especially quantitative in nature, of water conservation education programs have previously been conducted in the literature. This research measured the quantitative effects and impacts of the education program on water use in single-family homes in Dallas, Texas. A total of 2,122 students in 104 classrooms at three schools in the Dallas Independent School District received hands-on, inquiry-based water conservation education lessons and the average monthly water use (in gallons) in single-family homes was analyzed to measure whether or not there was a change in water use. The results showed that over a period of one calendar year the water use in the single-family homes within each school zone and throughout the entire research area in this study experienced a statistically significant decrease in water use of approximately 501 gallons per home per month (independent, t-test, p>0.001). Data from this research suggests that EEI is playing a role in decreasing the amount of water used for residential purposes. Additionally, this research demonstrates the use of a quantitative tool by which a water conservation education program’s effect on behavior change can be measured. This research shows great promise for reducing use and increasing the conservation of our world’s most precious resource.

The city of Cape Town suffered a severe water crisis in 2018. At the peak of the drought in South Africa’s Western Cape, a randomised control trial at 105 schools investigated the impact of two behavioural interventions to encourage responsible water usage: detailed water usage data feedback from smart meters, and an interschool competition. Interventions reduced water usage in these schools by 15 to 26%. The information feedback was found to be more effective in reducing night time water use, indicating better water usage by the staff, while the competition was found to be more effective during the day time, indicating better water usage by the pupils. The contrast highlights the way feedback was understood differently by the two groups, with different effects on their assumption of responsibility. This example from Cape Town demonstrates the effectiveness of combining smart technologies with nudges. It provides a model of water conservation interventions for sustainable cities.