Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-223). / This thesis examines the interrelationship between “water, climate change and small towns”. The research question is framed in three parts: 1) can climate change be integrated into existing planning frameworks? 2) can small towns build resilient strategies against projected climate change impacts? and, 3) is adaptation to climate change an economic issue? It is evident that very little synergy exists between the different sectors dealing with water access. A holistic view of access and the impact of climate change does not exist in the sustainable development, urban planning and water resources management sectors. It is therefore proposed that the successful delivery of accessible water services lies with the integration of the urban planning, water resources management and climate change adaptation responses. In order to achieve this, a planning framework is introduced.

Övergödning är ett av Sveriges mest allvarliga miljöproblem. Genom utsläpp till följd av antropogen verksamhet läcker näringsämnen ut i vattnet. Den senaste undersökningen av Stockholms stads grundvatten har kartlagt halterna av kväve och fosfor. Eftersom grundvatten är en del utav det hydrologiska kretsloppet, och efter en viss omsättningstid övergår till ytvatten, påverkar kvalitén hos grundvattnet recipienten samt det ekosystem som denna ingår i. Rapporten ämnar undersöka halterna av kväve och fosfor i grundvattnet utifrån befintliga bedömningsgrunder samt kartlägga huruvida grundvattnet bidrar till övergödning av Stockholms kommuns ytvattenförekomster. Detta är av vikt för kommunens vattenförvaltning i linje med EU:s vattendirektiv och mål om god status för vattenförekomster, men även för att verka mot landets miljökvalitetsmål. Miljöförvaltningens undersökning av grundvattenkvaliteten visar på höga halter av fosfor samt ammoniumkväve. Halterna av nitrat samt nitrit är enbart höga i vissa av provpunkterna. Halterna av främst fosfor och ammoniumkväve kan enligt bedömningsgrunder ha övergödande effekt på ytvattendrag. En översiktlig undersökning baserad på grundvattnets strömningsriktning visar att kommunens vattenförekomster får ett tillskott av vatten via grundvattnet inom kommunen. Detta finns representerat i kvalitetsundersökningen av grundvattnet varpå slutsatsen dras att ytvattenförekomsterna inom kommunen påverkas negativt av grundvattnet. / Eutrophication is one of Sweden’s most severe environmental issues. Due to emissions through anthropogenic activity nutrients are added to aquatic systems. The latest analysis of the Stockholm municipality groundwater has examined the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Due to the fact that the groundwater is part of the hydrological cycle and will eventually reach the surface water, the condition of the groundwater will affect the recipient and correlating ecosystem. This report aims to analyze the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the groundwater of Stockholm based on current national quality standards, and to identify whether the groundwater is contributing to the eutrophication of the surface water bodies in the municipality of Stockholm. This is of significance regarding the water management in Stockholm municipality, based on the EU water framework directive, and the target of achieving good status for all water bodies. It is also of great importance regarding the Swedish environmental quality objectives. The groundwater quality analysis indicates high levels of phosphorus and ammonium. The nitrate and nitrite levels are only excessive in certain cases. Primarily, the levels of phosphorus and ammonium may, according to national quality standards, have eutrophic effect on surface water bodies. A cursory examination based on the flow directions of the groundwater, indicates that the municipality’s surface waters are supplied with water from the municipality’s groundwater. This correlation is represented in the analysis of groundwater quality and it is therefore concluded that the groundwater has a negative impact on the surface water bodies within the municipality.

Time-lapse reflection seismic methods have proven effective fordetecting and monitoring the injection and spreading of geologicallystored CO2. These methods are based on interpreting changes in themedia’s elastic properties that result from replacing the native salinewater by the injected CO2, which in turn affects the seismic velocitiesof the media. Since applications of these methods in the field areexpensive, and the interpretation process is time consuming, pre-studyinvestigations should be done in order to determine whether or notreflection seismic surveys can successfully be applied to monitor theCO2 plume in the case of interest.In the present study, CO2 injection and migration in a deep salineaquifer based on a structure situated below the south-western part ofthe Baltic Sea was modeled. To determine the CO2 saturationdistributions at different times, the injection was numericallysimulated using TOUGH2/ECO2N. A radial-symmetric model withhomogeneous and isotropic properties was assumed and two differentinjection rates were studied, with the results analyzed at differenttimes after the start of the injection.The saturation and density values resulting from the TOUGH2simulation were converted to seismic velocities using the Biot-Gassmann model. A synthetic velocity model was built based on bothTOUGH2 and Biot-Gassmann models and synthetic seismic responsefields before and after injection were generated. The results show thatthe amplitude changes in the seismic response are detectable even forsmall amounts of injected CO2, while noticeable signs of velocitypushdown, as a signature of the CO2 substitution, could only beobserved if the injection rate is high enough.

The understanding of where the streams begin is an important factor in both hydrology and geomorphology, as well as for land use activities. Despite this, only a few research projects have been done in a snowmelt-dominated boreal landscape. The main objective in this study is to see if one could predict where a stream initiates by knowing possible controlling factors. Data points from stream initiation points in the boreal landscape of Krycklan, situated 50 km Northwest of Umeå, were analyzed. Krycklan is a well-known research area and a lot of research projects have been done here. The landscape is diverse and most of the streams have been modified by human impact. The data points were collected with help of a Global Positioning System (GPS) during three different sampling campaigns; May 2012, May 2013 and August 2013. Maps were made from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) showing slope, elevation and contributing areas for the stream heads. No clear relationship between the contributing area and slope could be found in this area, although it has been demonstrated in more semi-arid climates. The results show that other factors than the contributing area, elevation and slope seem to have a greater impact for the initiation of streams in a boreal landscape. The results were expected because of the modifications done for the streams.

This was the final statement in a report, prepared for the Namibian Programme to Combat Desertification (NAPCOD), which researched the process, praxis and environmental impacts of borehole provision in communal areas in Namibia (ENGEO, 1997).¹ This dissertation is a response to this concluding statement. It presents a theoretical model which provides a comprehensive yet simple environmental assessment and management framework to inform, guide and manage the provision of boreholes in communal areas in Namibia. The model has been designed to be cost effective, appropriate for its context and 'user-friendly'. Most importantly, the model aims to present a system which would promote principles of sustainability and, consequently, sustainable development in terms of borehole provision in communal areas in Namibia.

Hyporheic exchange in streams supports many important ecosystem services but can also contribute to legacy pollution, by trapping less reactive contaminants in streambed sediments that are then slowly released back to the stream over time. In this study we evaluated three different analytical representations of the backward transit time distribution (bTTD) of water leaving the hyporheic zone, corresponding to different mechanisms for how water and solutes in hyporheic zone storage are sampled for outflow: (1) uniform sampling (exponential bTTD), plug-flow sampling (Dirac delta bTTD), and preferential sampling of either young or old water (Gamma bTTD). Using the Method of Moments, these three bTTDs were tested against data from 47 previously published hyporheic exchange experiments conducted in laboratory flumes over a range of flow conditions, sediment grain sizes, and bedform sizes and types. Based on measures of model fit and parsimony (AICc), in all 47 experiments hyporheic exchange was best represented by either the Gamma or exponential distributions. Further, values for key process variables, including hyporheic exchange flux and the Gamma distribution's shape parameter are correlated with readily measured field variables, including mean grain diameter of the streambed, streambed roughness, and mean stream discharge and velocity. This work advances understanding of hyporheic exchange processes and their representation in models of pollutant fate and transport in streams. / Master of Science / The sediments beneath a stream, where surface water and groundwater interact, play an important role in supporting aquatic ecosystems and nutrient cycling. In natural streams, conservative pollutants enter into the permeable sediments and slowly return to the stream over time, known as legacy pollution. This study looks at different models of how conservative pollutants circulate through the in-stream sediments, and tests how well each model represents published laboratory experiments. Model parameters were also correlated to physical parameters such as flow velocity, mean grain size diameter, and porosity. This study helps clarify the role that sediments play in pollutant transport in streams and articulates implications for legacy pollution in stream bed sediments.

Because of the endangerment of life of the human beings due to the environmental pollution, a serious study of the pollution of the environment is most vital. Because of increasing surface water pollution there is great hazard of ground water pollution. About half the United States of America derives drinking water from aquifers and much of the projected demand is expected to be met from subsurface sources. Therefore, a study was needed to determine the process of ground water contamination due to nutrients, especially Nitrogen, its degree and Length and Time of Travel and factors inhibiting its flow through soil. The present study was undertaken at the 'Pine Crest Duck Farm' at Sterling, Massachusetts, where the nature of the soil was Gravely Sandy Loam and Three unlined (from the side and bottom) waste stabilization ponds existed and there was a great danger of ground water contamination due to Nitrogen in the vicinity of ponds and further. In the field, observation wells were installed along the redial line and bi-monthly samples of water were taken to monitor the levels of B.O.D., Ammonium, Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen. Since the Adsorption of the Nitrogen by the soil is great inhibitor in the movement of the Nitrogen through soil profiles, this study was undertaken to study the adsorptive capacity of the soil in 'Bench Tests' and to test the applicability and validity of various adsorption isotherms of nitrogen in the soil; to develop a dimensional model or prediction equation for the nitrogen in the soil under natural flow conditions by studying the effects of varying concentration and flow rates on the adsorptive capacity of the soil, based on the principles of similitude; to correlate adsorption values in bench and column tests; and to determine the length and time of travel of nitrogen through soil. The soil from the Farm was obtained from a depth of six feet with enough care so that original structure was maintained. Adsorptive capacity of the soil was determined through series of 'Bench Tests' and 'Soil Adsorption Columns' in the laboratory under temperature controlled chambers. From the Bench Tests Adsorption values of the soil at various concentrations of Ammonium, Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen were determined and validity and applicability of Adsorption isotherms were confirmed. To study the Adsorption Process under natural flow conditions 'Soil Adsorption Column Tests' were done by using never done before Dimensional Model Analysis of Factors affecting Adsorption and getting dimensionless numbers and further obtaining 'Break Through Curves' at different Concentration and flow rates and Adsorption Values were obtained for Ammonium Nitrogen and Nitrite Nitrogen. Finally, Component and Prediction Equations were obtained for Ammonium Nitrogen and Nitrate Nitrogen. By knowing the Adsorption Values of the soil Length and Time of Travel of Ammonium and Nitrate Nitrogen through soil was calculated at various Concentration Levels. A mathematical Prediction Equation was also obtained between Bench and Column Tests and Length of Time of Travel, t predict the adsorption values under natural flow conditions by just performing less time consuming Bench Tests. It was also found that under equilibrium Bench Test conditions and natural flow conditions, adsorption of Ammonium, Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen increased with increasing solution concentration and adsorption of Ammonium Nitrogen was considerably higher than Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen. It was further found that for solution concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/l Ammonium Nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen will travel one foot distance in 183 and 115 days; 168 and 111 days; 148 and 98 days; 145 and 81 days; 130 and 98 days; and 127 and 97 days respectively. It was determined that at the present time contamination of shallow water wells does not pose Nitrogen contamination problem and installation of these wells beyond 300 feet radial distance from the waste stabilization ponds was safe.

An isotope analysis using stable water isotope ratios, δ18O and δ2H, paired together with PFAS monitoring has been conducted to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the groundwater origin, transport processes and PFAS contamination dynamics for a portion of the Uppsala Esker affected by artificial infiltration. This information is valuable in developing strategies to meet the water demand that is expected to increase with the growing population, manage and reduce the PFAS contamination and protect the drinking water supply in Uppsala. The foundation of this project is a large set of δ18O and δ2H isotope data stretching back to 2014 until today, provided by Uppsala Vatten, as well as water samples taken between September and November 2023 at six groundwater sampling points in the area around Tunåsen, Uppsala. These six sampling points consisted of four groundwater observation wells, Galgbacken’s wellfield and Tunåsen’s infiltration chamber where water from Fyrisån passes through before being infiltrated in the aquifer.     By determining the travel time of the water through the esker from the infiltration point to the wellfield using the stable isotopes δ18O and δ2H the travel time was found to be on average 225 days and the average speed of water at this site was found to be 1·10-4 m s-1. By calculating the percentage of infiltrated surface water from the Tunåsen infiltration chamber in Galgbacken wellfield, a blending ratio could be assessed. This blending ratio was found to be on average 89 % surface water from river Fyris and 11 % virgin groundwater originating from north of the study area. When investigating the PFAS concentration at the six sampling points between Tunåsen and Galgbacken sampling point D showed high concentrations of PFAS indicating that there might be a point source near that sampling point. The PFAS composition did not change drastically along the travel path and not all PFAS comes from infiltration.  The isotope analysis can be used as a tool to estimate when a high total PFAS concentration found at Tunåsen is likely to reach Galgbacken, however it cannot be used to draw conclusions about the transport of individual PFAS substances or composition profiles.

<p> This research indicates that present methods of water supply and sewerage for high arctic communities are inadequate from the point of view of health, aesthetics and economics. This thesis examines these present methods and their problems.</p> <p> Field work was conducted in three communities of the Eastern Canadian Arctic. Data were collected with regard to, - the biological quality of the drinking water and raw water sources, the quantities of river water available, the soil conditions, the construction equipment and generating capacities of the small communities, water consumption, and the sizes and types of storage tanks within the communities.</p> <p> In order to improve existing conditions, an entirely new method of water supply is developed in which water is intermittently distributed through electrically traced pipes to storage tanks within all the buildings. Computer programs are presented which will optimize the design on the basis of net annual cost. The related problems of water quality, power supply and sewerage are also examined and social, health and aesthetic effects are considered.</p> <p> The results are novel in many respects: Distributed storage allows the use of very small diameter pipes and results in very low capital, construction and operating costs.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

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