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1. Building resilience for an uncertain drinking water future

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1362  

   Huang, Jingyan; Bixler, Taler; Mo, Weiwei (November 2023, AWWA Water Science)

   Abstract Enhancing drinking water resilience has become increasingly important. However, a comprehensive analysis of drinking water emergency countermeasures is lacking. This study evaluated eight countermeasures including monitoring, local alternatives, reclaimed water, interconnection, bulk water, pre‐packaged water, emergency treatment, and isolation valves from resilience and sustainability (i.e., life cycle cost) perspectives. While countermeasures such as interconnections perform relatively well from both perspectives, there is a clear trade‐off between resilience and cost. Local alternatives and emergency treatment respond quickly and provide sustained supply during emergencies but may incur higher costs. Bulk water and pre‐packaged water are typically inexpensive but have limited supply capacity and take time to distribute. As future threats are likely to become more frequent and prolonged, it is prudent for service providers to invest in countermeasures that perform well in both resilience and cost and use an integrated approach that combines high capital projects with bulk/pre‐packaged water contracts. 

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2. Unexpected growth of an illegal water market

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01177-7  

   Klassert, Christian; Yoon, Jim; Sigel, Katja; Klauer, Bernd; Talozi, Samer; Lachaut, Thibaut; Selby, Philip; Knox, Stephen; Avisse, Nicolas; Tilmant, Amaury; et al (November 2023, Nature Sustainability)

   Abstract Scarce and unreliable urban water supply in many countries has caused municipal users to rely on transfers from rural wells via unregulated markets. Assessments of this pervasive water re-allocation institution and its impacts on aquifers, consumer equity and affordability are lacking. We present a rigorous coupled human–natural system analysis of rural-to-urban tanker water market supply and demand in Jordan, a quintessential example of a nation relying heavily on such markets, fed by predominantly illegal water abstractions. Employing a shadow-economic approach validated using multiple data types, we estimate that unregulated water sales exceed government licences 10.7-fold, equalling 27% of the groundwater abstracted above sustainable yields. These markets supply 15% of all drinking water at high prices, account for 52% of all urban water revenue and constrain the public supply system’s ability to recover costs. We project that household reliance on tanker water will grow 2.6-fold by 2050 under population growth and climate change. Our analysis suggests that improving the efficiency and equity of public water supply is needed to ensure water security while avoiding uncontrolled groundwater depletion by growing tanker markets. 

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3. Unexpected growth of an illegal water market

   Klassert, Christian; Yoon, Jim; Sigel, Katja; Klauer, Bernd; Talozi, Samer; Lachaut, Thibaut; Selby, Philip; Knox, Stephen; Avisse, Nicolas; Tilmant, Amaury; et al (August 2023, Nature Sustainability)

   Abstract Scarce and unreliable urban water supply in many countries has caused municipal users to rely on transfers from rural wells via unregulated markets. Assessments of this pervasive water re-allocation institution and its impacts on aquifers, consumer equity and affordability are lacking. We present a rigorous coupled human–natural system analysis of rural-to-urban tanker water market supply and demand in Jordan, a quintessential example of a nation relying heavily on such markets, fed by predominantly illegal water abstractions. Employing a shadow-economic approach validated using multiple data types, we estimate that unregulated water sales exceed government licences 10.7-fold, equalling 27% of the groundwater abstracted above sustainable yields. These markets supply 15% of all drinking water at high prices, account for 52% of all urban water revenue and constrain the public supply system’s ability to recover costs. We project that household reliance on tanker water will grow 2.6-fold by 2050 under population growth and climate change. Our analysis suggests that improving the efficiency and equity of public water supply is needed to ensure water security while avoiding uncontrolled groundwater depletion by growing tanker markets. 

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4. Plastic water supply connectors: Leaching, hydrocarbon contamination, and decontamination

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1382  

   Isaacson, Kristofer P; Le, Halley; Verma, Akshat; Youngblood, Jeffrey P; Shah, Amisha D; Whelton, Andrew J (July 2024, AWWA Water Science)

   Disasters can prompt hydrocarbon contaminants to reach building water systems, and ultimately customer fixtures. Here, seven water supply connectors (e.g., ice‐maker lines, faucet connectors, washing machine hoses) were exposed to contaminated water, and were subsequently decontaminated by water flushing. After a 24 h contamination period, water samples were collected after three consecutive 72 h exposure periods. Samples were characterized for volatile organic compound, semi‐volatile organic compound, and total organic carbon concentrations. New, uncontaminated, PVC tubing leached phenol at concentrations that exceeded the health advisory. All materials sorbed more than 90% of hydrocarbon contaminants during the initial exposure period. All materials then released the contaminants into the water during decontamination, at times above health‐based limits. The majority of sorbed mass remained in the plastics at the end of the decontamination effort, indicating the products posed continued leaching risks. Public health guidance considerations and research needs were identified. 

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5. Household water insecurity experiences and their perceived determinants in a low-income community of Cartagena, Colombia, during a water service expansion project

   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000154  

   Lemaitre, Andrea K; Miller, Joshua D; Stoler, Justin (September 2023, PLOS Water)

   Rivera-Salazar, Diego (Ed.)

   Traditional water indicators primarily focus on water quantity and quality, but emergent research demonstrates that measurement of lived experiences with water availability, accessibility, and use is important for understanding how household water insecurity impacts health and well-being. Few empirical studies have explored which household water insecurity experiences are most salient, or their potential causes, in Latin American cities. We analyzed data from 266 households in a low-income settlement of Cartagena, Colombia, to identify correlates and perceived determinants of water insecurity. The most prevalent household water insecurity experiences were water supply interruptions (96%), water worry (94%), and anger about the water situation (90%). Unexpected water interruptions and use of non-piped primary drinking water sources were associated with greater household water insecurity scores, water worry subscores, and hygiene subscores. Respondents perceived water issues in their community to be caused by deficiencies in gray infrastructure (49%), which included deficiencies in water distribution, treatment, or storage technologies. Social infrastructure (36%), including issues with political, economic, or administrative systems, was also cited as a barrier to water security. We did not detect significant relationships between water insecurity scores and the attribution of these problems to gray or social infrastructure, but there may be relationships between these factors and duration of residency and using a non-piped water source. These findings underscore the importance of socio-political factors and community engagement for improving urban water insecurity through slum-upgrade projects. 

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