ABSTRACT
The large consumption of fast fashion brings many negative environmental impacts. Filipino consumers love and buy fast fashion because it is relatively cheap but trendy, and there are lots of fashionable designs to choose from. Despite the shortage in water supply and disposal issues of fast fashion, people still continue to purchase. The lack of awareness of consumers on sustainable fashion consumption led the researchers to conduct a study that aims to identify factors affecting Filipino consumers' buying decisions on fast fashion using the combined theory of planned behavior, elaboration likelihood model, and hedonic motivation. A total of 407 participants were gathered through a convenience sampling approach, and the data collected were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The result shows that attitude towards fast fashion is the highest contributing factor to purchase intention. While social media positively affects purchase intention, sustainability advocacy negatively impacts the consumers' intention to buy fast fashion. The awareness of sustainability leads to consumption reduction of fast fashion garments. Surprisingly, perceived product price and quality do not show a significant influence on purchase intention. Incorporating sustainability advocacy on social media may be a great strategy to encourage the sustainable consumption of fashion garments. The findings of this study could be a great tool to influence fashion companies and government institutions to promote sustainability awareness and transition marketing strategies to the sustainable consumption of fashion.
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We strongly recommend EWRI members visit the London Water & Steam Museum. This presentation includes many slides of this outstanding museum near the Kew tube station. London Museum of Water & Steam features artefacts and interactive exhibits on water. On October 26, 2018, David Gilbert and Jerry Rogers toured the London Museum of Water & Steam, located at Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, London, TW8 0EN near Kew station. Kew Bridge Pumping Station was originally opened in 1838 by the Grand Junction Waterworks Company. In 1999, the United Kingdom government's Department for Culture, Media, and Sport described Kew Bridge Pumping Station as "the most important historic site of the water supply industry in Britain." The heart of the museum showcases a majestic collection of steam pumping engines, including engines from Corynwall, as well as rotative engines. There are many excellent London water supply and treatment exhibits also. Due to COVID-19, the planned International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark plaque ceremony of July 26, 2020, for the 200-year-old Union Chain Suspension Bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed was cancelled. Note the book: Samuel Brown and Union Chain Bridge: Gordon Miller, Friends of the Union Bridge, 306 pp, 135 photographs, 15.5 GBP. A tour of the Paxton Estate (Paxton Trust), a historic house at Paxton, Berwickshire, was planned to be a part of the plaque ceremony. There is discussion of having a modified plaque ceremony in the spring of 2023 (specific date to be determined) possibly before the May 2023 EWRI Congress in Henderson, Nevada. © World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023.All rights reserved
ABSTRACT
Some problems of Filipino farmers in Nueva Ecija are irrigation systems and labor shortage. Most of them are unable to work due to old age while others chose to stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, irrigation systems have been an issue due to the lack of resources such as continuous water supply and control. Fortunately, there is a progression of smart farming in the country which could assist in optimizing farming processes. This study presents a systematic literature survey on rice farming technologies and challenges. This study also aims to help address these problems by creating a rice irrigation system that introduces a water level control system. The system was comprised of a mobile application, Arduino ESP32 module, and a tank with water level sensors. The mobile application was used to set the desired water level while the proportional- integral-derivative (PID) controller adjusted the water level automatically. When current water level is lower than the setpoint, the valves to the tank will open. Tank specifications were used to come up with a transfer function for the system. The proposed design was simulated in MATLAB Simulink and PID parameters were tuned to enhance system performance. The tuned control system obtained an output response with less overshoot and faster settling time. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Outdoor food markets represent important locations where foodborne illnesses and other infectious diseases can spread. Countries in Africa face particular challenges given the importance of these markets in food supply and low rates of access to safely managed water and sanitation. We undertook a scoping review of evidence related to disease transmission in food markets in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and identified 46 papers for data extraction and synthesis. Vendor behaviour or awareness was reported in the majority of papers and about half reported on market infrastructure. Fewer studies have been reported on regulatory environments or food contamination. Studies on water supply, sanitation and handwashing facilities focused on the presence of services and did not evaluate quality, thus conclusions cannot be drawn on service adequacy. Studies of vendor behaviour were primarily based on self-reporting and subject to bias. Most studies reported high levels of vendor awareness of the need for hygiene, but where observations were also conducted, these showed lower levels of behaviours in practice. Our findings suggest that there are limited studies on environmental hygiene in outdoor food markets and this is an area warranting further research, including into the quality of services and addressing methodological weaknesses.
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La eficacia de las estrategias de la administración pública se ha medido en la forma en que manejan las pandemias y los efectos en cadena que se producen en el medio ambiente o la sociedad, y en este caso, en el abastecimiento de agua rural en México en tiempos de pandemia. El acceso al agua en las zonas rurales de México y cómo el gobierno ha manejado el aumento de la demanda durante las pandemias se exploran mediante una revisión sistemática de 51 documentos. El sistema de agua de México está por debajo de la media y es necesario realizar más inversiones en los planes de gestión comunitaria. Se requiere la participación de la ciudadanía en el desarrollo de esquemas de gestión comunitaria para encontrar una solución a la demanda y oferta cambiantes.Alternate :The efficacy of public administration strategies has been gauged on how they handle pandemics and the knock-on effects that occur on the environment or society, and in this case, in the rural water supply in Mexico in times of pandemics. Water access in rural Mexico and how the government has managed the rise in demand during pandemics are explored using a systematic review into 51 documents. Mexico's water system is below par and there is a need for more investments to be pumped into community management schemes. The involvement of the public in the development of community management schemes is necessary to find a solution to the changing demand and supply.
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Through a detailed analysis of the visual imagery as well as the verbal mode of narration, in Sarnath Banerjee's Graphic narrative All Quiet in Vikaspuri, the study suggests that the water-deprived, post-apocalyptic world that Banerjee reflects, is a spitting image of the Anthropogenic water crisis in India. Drawing theoretical insights from Madhav Gadgil, Ramachandra Guha and Dipesh Chakrabarty, the paper attempts to suggest the "Great Indian Water Crisis" is fueled by "short-termism," increased corporate privatization of water, myopic government development policies and erection of dams and other capitalist structures. The paper also aims to uncover how sociopolitical "slow-violence" is rendered to the natural resources under the garb of "Vikas" (development) and privatization. By contriving the narrative around the quest for the river Saraswati, Banerjee draws attention to the ever-so-real issue of groundwater overextraction in India, leading to its dipping levels and in turn, depletion. Further, the paper argues that "intermediality" of graphic narration abets Banerjee to cater to "the representational challenges" of the Anthropocene.
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One constraint of Thai soybean production is the volume of seeds used for cultivation in the dry season or after the rice season. PhuPha Man district, KhonKaenprovince, in Northeast Thailand, faces the same problem and can be solved by producing seeds during the rainy season for use in the dry season. The collaborative brainstorming to participatory action development employed in this community-based soybean production project involves four steps: (1) needs assessment, (2) planning, (3) implementation, and (4) evaluation. From 2019-2020, a total of 40 farmers jointly participated in this project: 20 from the Non-Korm Sub-district and 20 from the Sawab Sub-district. They agreed to implement three missions: (1) Farmer group management. A Community-based Soybean Seed Production Center (CSSPC) was established in each area. Each CSSPC was responsible for determining the structure and role of management, including the implementation of disciplines. (2) Seed production management. During its implementation, a shortage of rainfall and drought occurred from September to October 2019, causing soybean production to decline. Moreover, product harvesting and project evaluation took place at the site during the COVID-19 pandemic from January to May 2020, influencing the ability of farmers and facilitators to work together on group activities which required delicate management of the monitoring, control, production, exchange, and learning to solve problems. (3) Seed purchasing and distribution management. Rainfall shortage and drought influenced the ability of the farmers to produce the required soybean seeds. Consequently, the CSSPC did not purchase the seeds and manage their distribution.Copyright © 2023, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
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Viruses and other microorganisms can enter water sources from different routes and cause pollution and irreparable damage. So, cost-effective and efficient systems for providing safe water are necessary. Efficient filtration systems based on antimicrobial materials have received a lot of attention in this regard. A wide range of materials play an important role in the production of efficient water filtration systems. Metal and metal oxide particles with anti-viral and antimicrobial properties comprising Cu, Cu2O, Ag, TiO2, and ZnO play a valuable role in the preparation of water filtration systems. Biopolymers such as cellulose or carbon nanomaterials like graphene or its derivatives have been reported to provide safe water. In this review, we summarize the use of diverse materials in the preparation of efficient filtration-based systems like membranes and paper filters for water treatment. Pathogen-containing water samples were effectively disinfected using the prepared water disinfection systems.Copyright © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
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The presence of estrogenic compounds (endocrine-disruptors, EDCs) in the water supply raises concerns about human and aquatic health. Current methods for detecting estrogen contamination require expensive, time-consuming techniques such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Previously reported estrogen biosensors required multiple cloning and transformation steps for successful detection in bacteria. Synthetic biology allows for the construction of genetic devises composed of DNA sequences modified to be interchangeable and provide novel functions. New tools and devices are constantly needed to enhance the already extensive list of novel genetic parts. Our approach to the design of an estrogen responsive element uses methodology developed in the Wells lab (Elledge et al, 2021) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This methodology takes advantage of the split Nanoluciferase (spLUC) protein divided into two functional domains (designated SmBit and LgBit). Based on rational engineering design we express dimerization dependent LgBit and SmBit fused to the Estrogen Receptor alpha protein (ERalpha) in bacteria cells. These two monomeric proteins will dimerize in the presence of estrogen, reconstitute the split luciferase enzyme and reestablish enzyme activity. Cells can be lysed, and luminescence detected to quantify estrogen present in the sample. We present here the construction strategy and proof of concept data demonstrating the efficiency of this dual-functional biosensor and its effectiveness for detection of estrogenic compounds in contaminated water. NSF-REU-1852150, REU Site: A multisite REU in Synthetic Biology, 2019.Copyright © 2023 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic raised the public profile of wastewater-based infectious disease monitoring. General media coverage about wastewater detection of SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 coronavirus) increased community awareness of the potential use of wastewater for the detection and surveillance of emerging diseases and also heightened recognition of the potential for wastewater to harbour and convey a variety of pathogens. This has also generated questions about the potential public health impacts of emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2 and mpox, in sewage and recycled water. To ensure water security in an era of climate change, water recycling is increasingly important in Australia and other water-stressed nations and managing disease risks in integrated water management is thus of critical importance. This paper demonstrates the existing risk management provisions for recycled water and explores potential issues posed by novel and emerging pathogens. First, a synopsis of some key emerging and re-emerging human pathogens is presented and the risks associated with these pathogens in the context of recycled water provision is considered. Then, an overview of the engineered treatment systems and regulatory framework used to manage these emerging risks in Australia is presented, together with a discusion of how emerging pathogen risks can be managed to ensure safe recycled water supply now and into the future.
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Fluctuating building occupancy during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to poor water quality and safety conditions in building water distribution systems (BWDSs). Natural disasters, man-made events, or academic institutional calendars (i.e., semesters or holiday breaks) can disrupt building occupant water usage, which typically increases water age within a BWDS. High water age, in turn, is known to propagate poor water quality and safety conditions, which potentially exposes building occupants to waterborne pathogens (e.g., Legionella) associated with respiratory disease or hazardous chemicals (e.g., lead). Other influencing factors are green building design and municipal water supply changes. Regardless of the cause, an increasing number of water management policies require building owners to improve building water management practices. The present study developed a Water Quality and Safety Risk Assessment (WQSRA) tool to address gaps in building water management for academic institutions and school settings. The tool is intended to assist with future implementation of water management programs as the result of pending policies for the built environment. The WQSRA was modeled after water management practices created for controlling water contaminants in healthcare facilities. Yet, a novel WQSRA tool was adapted specifically for educational settings to allow building owners to evaluate risk from water hazards to determine an appropriate level of risk mitigation measures for implementation. An exemplar WQSRA tool is presented for safety, facility, industrial hygiene, and allied professionals to address current gaps in building water management programs. Academic institutions and school settings should examine the WQSRA tool and formulate an organization-specific policy to determine implementation before, during, and after building water-disruptive events associated with natural or man-made disasters.
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New normal routines have continued to campaign since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2019. One of these new habits is to keep washing your hands after every activity. Hand washing can be done using hand sanitizer or soap and washed in running water. As a result, the need for water to meet the habit of washing hands is expected to affect domestic water needs in a certain area. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the increase in domestic water demand during the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the new routine of washing hands in the research area in the city of Banda Aceh, Indonesia. In addition, this study will also estimate domestic water needs until 2030 if the COVID-19 pandemic has not ended. Innovations in this research can help increase efficiency in water use and help prevent the spread of disease. This study uses a sampling method in several places in Banda Aceh city to obtain data related to the volumetric water used, handwashing time, and frequency of handwashing. Besides, data in water discharge from water supply companies in Banda Aceh city from 2018 to 2020 was also collected. Finally, data on the population of Banda Aceh city was also collected. The information and data are then analyzed using a statistical approach between supply and demand. Although it appears that there is a projected increase in domestic water demand of 1.89% per year due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 2021 to 2030, this is still 41.48% greater than the ability of water supply companies in the city of Banda Aceh to meet domestic water needs up to 2030. In conclusion, if the pandemic continues until 2030, with the expected increase in population, the domestic water needs in Banda Aceh city will still be fulfilled. © 2023 WITPress. All rights reserved.
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Objetivo: Este artigo objetivou realizar um levantamento sobre o saber popular acerca do serviço de esgotamento sanitário em municípios do estado de Pernambuco. Referencial teórico: Correspondeu a buscas na literatura científica, na legislação e em normas e dados técnicos de pesquisa social e de saneamento básico. Método: Devido à pandemia da Covid-19, a pesquisa foi feita de forma virtual, com o compartilhamento de um questionário eletrônico via mensagens de e-mail e de WhatsApp. Foi realizado o cruzamento das respostas da pesquisa com a qualificação dos participantes segundo os parâmetros do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Os dados foram confrontados com normativas e pesquisas científicas existentes sobre o tema. Resultados e conclusão: Foram consideradas as respostas de 251 participantes. Apesar de apenas nove terem formação acadêmica até o Ensino Fundamental, sendo esses moradores de bairros de baixa renda, observou-se que esse foi o grupo que mais lida com os problemas decorrentes da falta de saneamento básico, mais especificamente o esgotamento sanitário. Com isso, foi possível apontar as populações de comunidades mais carentes como o público mais prejudicado pelos problemas causados pela inexistência do sistema de esgotamento sanitário. Por fim, foram formuladas estratégias resolutivas para os problemas ora identificados. Implicações da pesquisa: Foi evidenciado que a participação social na formulação e na execução de serviços fundamentais à população como o saneamento básico é de suma importância para a sua eficácia. Originalidade/valor: Contribui, principalmente, no tocante à proposição de iniciativas estratégicas para a resolução das problemáticas decorrentes do mau funcionamento e/ou uso dos serviços de saneamento básico.Alternate abstract:Purpose: This article aimed to know the popular knowledge about sanitary sewage in relation to the socioeconomic profile of the participants. Theoretical framework: Corresponds to searches in scientific literature, legislation and standards and technical data on social research and basic sanitation. Method/design/approach: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the survey was carried out virtually, with the sharing of an electronic questionnaire via email and WhatsApp messages. The survey responses were crossed with the qualifications of the participants according to the parameters of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The data were confronted with regulations and existing scientific research on the subject. Results and conclusion: The responses of 251 participants were considered. Although only nine had academic training up to Elementary School, these being residents of low-income neighbourhoods, it was observed that this was the group that most deals with the problems arising from the lack of basic sanitation, more specifically sanitary sewage. With this, it was possible to point out the populations of the poorest communities as the public most affected by the problems caused by the lack of a sanitary sewage system. Finally, resolving strategies were formulated for the problems now identified. Research implications: It mainly contributes with regard to the proposition of strategic initiatives to solve problems arising from the malfunction and/or use of basic sanitation services. Originality/value: It mainly contributes with regard to the proposition of strategic initiatives to solve problems arising from the malfunction and/or use of basic sanitation services.
ABSTRACT
The Coronaviridae family's severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-Co V-2) outbreak has infected a large number of the population during the COVID- 19 pandemic. The most prominent mode of virus transmission is considered through respiratory droplets of the infected person. Virus-mediated respiratory infection depends upon the binding between spike protein and the Angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor expressed in lung alveolar type 2 cells. But some studies reported that gastrointestinal infection is also one of the prominent symptoms of COVID-19 because of the high expression of the ACE2 receptor in absorptive enterocytes of the small intestine. In a country like India, with high population density and due to unhygienic sanitation, it is crucial to understand the potential fecal-oral transmission route of SARS-CoV-2 during infection because of presence of ACE2 in small intestine. Therefore in our study, we aim to trace the potential fecal-oral transmission route of SARS-Co V-2 by examining human stool (collected from hospital settings) and nearby sewage water systems, followed by molecular characterization and viral load kinetics evaluation of SARSCOV- 2. qRT-PCR and NGS sequencing methods were used. The presence of SARS-COV-2 was reported in around 70% of samples (both clinical and environmental), this will help us to establish the epidemiological link between clinical and environmental samples after genomic analysis to alter the circulation of silent SARS Co V2 in the community.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led communities, including Kinshasa peri-urban schools, to reinforce WASH-related practices as a key com-ponent in preventing the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the institutional and behavioural changes in adolescent girl students' handwashing practices before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was performed, observing the hand hygiene of adolescent girl students, and assessing WASH facilities at schools, chosen from a sample previously selected in the study area. The results indicate significant increases in the prevalence of water points in schools from 10.9 to 22.5%, of handwashing facilities from 43 to 60.1% of schools with an average number of handwashing facilities from one to two, and the prevalence of school WASH brigades from 4.8 to 11.8% of schools. There was also a significant increase in schools receiving funds, and other support for WASH, respectively, from 24.9 to 70.3%, and from 17 to 45.9%, while the proportion of adolescent girl students washing their hands after using the toilet and before eating significantly increased from 6 to 28.4%. However, to improve the current WASH picture, and succeed in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and related impacts, additional efforts to enhance handwashing practice and WASH items' coverage are expected. © 2023 The Authors.
ABSTRACT
The world is nearing the 2030 target-year by which sustainable development goals (SDGs) should be achieved. While other developing regions seem to be making progress toward achieving SDG6, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is lagging behind significantly, particularly with regard to access to water supply and sanitation (WSS). As a result, most studies evaluating progress toward the achievement of water security SDGs in SSA have focused on WSS while the rest of the SDG6 targets have received scant attention, often using fragmented or incomplete evidence. Here, we fill this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the status of SDG6 in all 48 countries in SSA. We provide a review of the progress made, the challenges affecting each SDG6 target and examine the different political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors with potential to undermine the achievement of SDG6 in the region. Our review clearly demonstrates that it is likely that most countries may not achieve water security by 2030. The complex nature of the challenges and factors impeding the achievement of water security in SSA outlined here suggests that a holistic intervention involving local, national, and international stakeholders and the research community is urgently needed to address SDG6 if the 2030 target date is to be met. Approaches to enhance water security may equally consider: (a) underpinning peace and security in SSA and (b) the commitment of more financial resources by donors particularly during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Water safety plans address both routine operations and incident responses to support risk management in drinking water utilities. Their use and relevance in facing the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis were investigated via a survey distributed to water utilities and health or environmental agencies across the globe. Responses from 86 respondents from 38 countries were analysed to identify the water safety challenges faced and responses. Water safety plans appear to provide some preparedness and organizational advantages to utilities in facing the Covid-19 crisis, including stronger communication links between utilities and governing agencies. Guidance for future water safety planning is provided.
ABSTRACT
As a novel market-based water-saving mechanism, the Water Saving Management Contract (WSMC) project faces interruption risk caused by emergencies like the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. An interruption risk assessment model of WSMC projects is established through a quantitative evaluation of the impact of emergencies on water users based on input-output theory. First, the concept of the interruption risk index (IRI) is defined as a function of the duration of enterprise shutdown (DES). Second, the DES is divided into two parts: the duration caused by COVID-19 and that under other types of emergencies. Third, the risk tolerance threshold is given to estimate the interruption result, and its different consequences are discussed. Finally, a WSMC project in China is taken as a case study, and its interruption risks are analysed. The results show that the IRIs of this WSMC in both 2020 and 2021 are theoretically greater than the risk tolerance thresholds, and the high pandemic prevention standards and conservative pandemic estimates are the main reasons for the above results. The model established in this study provides a reference for WSMC participants to deal with emergencies and provides the theoretical support for the extension of the WSMC.
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Refugees in the destination countries might have some risks including lack of water supply. Nigeria as one of the destination countries for people of concern (PoCs) including refugees also faced the lack of access to water supply, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the factors related to reduced access to water supply in refugee camps in Nigeria during COVID-19 pandemic. This study used the secondary data available from UNHCR in Nigeria 2020. The survey used disproportionate stratified random sampling. After data cleaning, the data from 4,016 households were examined in this study. The interview has been done using the computer-assisted telephone interview. The factors related to the reduced access to water supply were living in Adamawa, Benue, Ogun, Taraba, Yobe, and Borne states, coming from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Syria, having household member 6-15 persons, having household income 41,000-60,000 Naira per month, and had low awareness about COVID-19. The demographic and economic factors were the most significantly related to reduced access to the water supply. © 2023, Intelektual Pustaka Media Utama. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The emergence of SARs-Cov-2 has severely impacted on the progress made so far on the sustainable development goals in SSA. The current ineffective water and healthcare sectors in many African countries could serve as a deterrent to an impending crisis. This mini review aims to highlight the opportunities and threats to the water and healthcare sector in a post pandemic era. Recent studies indicate that the virus have been found in water bodies including wastewater and sewage and this could serve as a potential medium of mutation of the virus. In addition, SSA have poor waste management implementation and sanitation especially within rural and densely populated areas. This coupled with lack of adequate supply of potable water can see SSA fall back in achieving the SDGs. The struggle against climate change and recently Covid-19 will devastate socio-economic development of many countries within the SSA region. Climate change has impacted on water accessibility and quality and Covid-19 requires adequate water supply to reduce human-to-human transmission. This will see a severe stress on already existing stresses in the water and health sectors which can eventually led to a system collapse. Urgent attention is therefore required through the design and implementation of programs aimed at building resilience to climate impacts and prepare for future pandemics.