Groundwater and Human Development

Groundwater and Human Development
Author: Emilia Bocanegra
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2005-06-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9780415364430

It has long been recognized that groundwater plays a central role in the development of human societies. Groundwater resources are readily and reliably available compared with surface water resources. In many contexts, the presence of groundwater ensures the presence of life itself. The XXXII IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists) and VI ALHSUD (Latin-American Association of Groundwater Hydrology for Development) Congress on Groundwater and Human Development, held in 2002, in Mar del Plata (Argentina), brought together over 400 participants from more than 40 countries. This lively gathering of water enthusiasts exchanged experiences of both fieldwork and research. Topics under discussion and scrutiny included: Groundwater and Quality of Life; Groundwater in Urban, Suburban and Rural Systems; Transboundary Aquifers; Hydrogeology of Large Plains; Coastal Aquifers; Methods for Groundwater Studies; and Education about Groundwater and Groundwater Management. This book contains selected papers, plenary lectures and material from workshops, illustrating the contribution of modern hydrogeology to sustaining humanity's thirst for fresh and safe water.

Groundwater and Ecosystems

Groundwater and Ecosystems
Author: Luis Ribeiro
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2013-06-13
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1138000337

Groundwater resources are facing increasing pressure from consuming and contaminating activities. There is a growing awareness that the quantitative and qualitative preservation of groundwater resources is a global need, not only to safeguard their future use for public supply and irrigation, but also to protect those ecosystems that depend partially or entirely on groundwater to maintain their species composition and natural ecological processes. Known as groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), they have been a fast-growing field of research during the last two decades. This book is intended to provide a diverse overview of important studies on groundwater and ecosystems, including a toolbox for assessing the ecological water requirements for GDEs, and relevant case studies on groundwater/surface-water interactions, as well as the role of nutrients in groundwater for GDEs and ecosystem dependence (vegetation and cave fauna) on groundwater. Case studies are from Australia (nine studies) and Europe (12 studies from nine countries) as well as Argentina, Canada and South Africa. This book is of interest to everybody dealing with groundwater and its relationship with ecosystems. It is highly relevant for researchers, managers and decision-makers in the field of water and environment. It provides up-to-date information on crucial factors and parameters that need to be considered when studying groundwater-ecosystem relationships in different environments worldwide.

Water Quality

Water Quality
Author: Hlanganani Tutu
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 430
Release: 2017-01-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9535128817

As concerns increase over the scarcity of water resources and the role of anthropogenic activities, water quality is evermore important. Activities ranging from agriculture to mining have had a bearing on the quality of water that they impact. Several studies assessing such impacts have been conducted at local and global scales over the years. This book, consisting of contributions by authors in various water-related fields, delves into some approaches that are used to understand and/or to improve water quality, and these include assessment of water chemistry, biomonitoring, modelling and water treatment. This book will be useful to environmental scientists, water professionals, researchers, academics and students.

Ecological Water Quality

Ecological Water Quality
Author: Voudouris
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2012-05-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9535105086

This book attempts to cover various issues of water quality in the fields of Hydroecology and Hydrobiology and present various Water Treatment Technologies. Sustainable choices of water use that prevent water quality problems aiming at the protection of available water resources and the enhancement of the aquatic ecosystems should be our main target.

Natural Groundwater Quality

Natural Groundwater Quality
Author: W. Mike Edmunds
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 488
Release: 2009-01-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1444300350

This text presents a series of thematic chapters together with chapters on representative groundwater systems in Europe which illustrate the main processes and evolution of water quality. Brings together the research of a consortium of leading European scientists who have conducted detailed studies of water quality in Europe Includes a synthesis of findings, highlighting the thematic and regional results, with recommendations regarding aquifer evaluation, indicators, monitoring, and drinking water standards Creates a key reference work on natural water quality of aquifers, at a time when the Groundwater Directive (GD) will shortly be brought in to supplement The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) to ensure good status of groundwater

Ecosystems and Sustainable Development

Ecosystems and Sustainable Development
Author: J.-L. Usó
Publisher:
Total Pages: 708
Release: 1998
Genre: Conservation of natural resources
ISBN: 9781853125027

Discussing recent work on the engineering and modelling aspects of ecosystems and sustainable development, this volume discusses such areas as: environmental policies; sustainable development models; trade policy and development; and natural resources management.

Ecological Indicators for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Assessment

Ecological Indicators for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Assessment
Author: João Carlos Marques
Publisher: WIT Press
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2009
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1845642090

Ecological indicators address ecosystems structure and/or function and are commonly used to provide synoptic information about their state. Through quantitative representations of either the forces that steer ecosystems, responses to forcing functions, or of previous, current, or future states of an ecosystem, indicators are expected to reveal conditions and trends that will help in development planning and decision making processes. Ecological indicators combine numerous environmental factors in a single value, which may be useful in terms of management and in the development of ecological concepts, compliant with the general public's understanding. Nevertheless, their application is not exempt of criticisms, the first of which is that aggregation results in an oversimplification of the ecosystem under observation. Ecological indicators must therefore be handled following the right criteria and in situations that are consistent with its intended use and scope; otherwise they may drive to confusing interpretations of data.