1
|
Sabzchi-Dehkharghani H, Samadi Kafil H, Majnooni-Heris A, Akbarzadeh A, Naderi-Ahranjani R, Fakherifard A, Mosaferi M, Gilani N, Noury M, Eydi P, Sayyari Sis S, Toghyanian N, Yegani R. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA contamination in water supply resources of Tabriz metropolitan during a peak of COVID-19 pandemic. SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 2022; 9:21. [PMID: 36570697 PMCID: PMC9759279 DOI: 10.1007/s40899-022-00809-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It is crucial to have access to clean water resources during the COVID-19 pandemic for hygiene, since virus infection through wastewater leaks in metropolitan areas can be a threat. Accurate monitoring of urban water resources during the pandemic seems to be the only way to confirm safe and infected resources. Here, in this study, the amount of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2's Ribonucleic Acid (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in the Tabriz urban water network located in the northwest of Iran was investigated by an extensive sampling of the city's water sources at a severe peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sampling process comprised a range of water sources, including wells, qanats, water treatment facilities, dams, and reservoirs. For each sample, a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was used for concentration and a laboratory RNA-based method was conducted for quantification. Before applying the extraction and quantification procedure to real samples, the proposed concentration method was verified with synthetic serum samples for the first time. After the concentration, RNA extraction was done by the BehPrep extraction column method, and Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) detection of the virus was done by Covitech COVID-19 RT-PCR kit. In none of the water supply resources, SARS-COV-2 RNA has been detected except in a sample grabbed from a well adjacent to an urban wastewater discharge point downstream. The results of molecular analysis for the positive sample showed that the CT value and concentration of the virus genome were equal to 32.57 and 5720 copies/L, respectively. Quantitative analysis of real samples shows that the city's water network was safe at the time of the study. However, given that the positive sample was exposed to wastewater leakage, periodic sampling from wells and qanats is suggested during the pandemic until it can be proven that the leakage to these water sources is impossible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hossein Samadi Kafil
- Drug Applied Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | | | - Rana Naderi-Ahranjani
- Membrane Technology Research Center, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, PO. BOX 51335/1996, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Fakherifard
- Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mosaferi
- Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Neda Gilani
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Noury
- Iranian Water Resources Management Company, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Eydi
- Membrane Technology Research Center, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, PO. BOX 51335/1996, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sajjad Sayyari Sis
- Membrane Technology Research Center, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, PO. BOX 51335/1996, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Reza Yegani
- Membrane Technology Research Center, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, PO. BOX 51335/1996, Tabriz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zambrano KT, Imani M, Cunha DGF. COVID-19 and organisational resilience in Brazil's water sector. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157637. [PMID: 35905969 PMCID: PMC9361783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic required a wide range of adaptations to the way that water sector operated globally. This paper looks into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian water sector and evaluates the water sector's organisational resilience from the lens of water professionals. This study uses British Standard (BS 65000:2014)'s Resilience Maturity Scale method to evaluate organisational resilience in water sector under two defined scenarios of before and during the pandemic. For this purpose, the self-assessment framework developed by Southern Water in the United Kingdom (based on BS 65000:2014), comprising of the core resilience elements of Direction, Awareness, Alignment, Learning, Strengthening, and Assurance, are used for evaluations. A qualitative-quantitative surveying method is used for data collection. A total of 14 responses to the whole questionnaire were received from May 2021 to August 2021, each representing one water company in Brazil (four local companies and ten state-owned ones). The analyses identified COVID-19 as a threat multiplier particularly to already existing financial challenges due to the pre-existing threats in water sector. Bad debt and the COVID-19 emergency measures are recognised as the main challenges by 21 % and 14 % of the survey respondents. The state-owned and local companies scored an almost similar maturity level 3, 35 % and 34 % respectively, while the local companies scored much lower at maturity level 4 i.e., 26 % as opposed to 47 % in state-owned sector. This indicates that COVID-19 has a greater impact on local companies and the needs to increase preparedness. This study replicates an international experience to raise awareness on water sector's resiliency in Brazil and how it can be improved to withstand future external shocks. It sheds light on how and what existing challenges can be exacerbated facing a global shock and proposes opportunities for improvement of resilience maturity in water sector in Brazil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Tavares Zambrano
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo CEP 13560-590, Brazil.
| | - Maryam Imani
- School of Engineering & the Built Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1SQ, United Kingdom.
| | - Davi Gasparini Fernandes Cunha
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo CEP 13560-590, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ponce-Robles L, Mena E, Diaz S, Pagán-Muñoz A, Lara-Guillén AJ, Fellahi I, Alarcón JJ. Integrated full-scale solar CPC/UV-LED–filtration system as a tertiary treatment in a conventional WWTP for agricultural reuse purposes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2022; 22:641-654. [PMID: 36401770 PMCID: PMC9676787 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00342-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractToday, the emergence of increasingly restrictive treatment and reuse policies make the implementation of full-scale tertiary treatment, capable of improving the quality of water, a priority. Full-scale TiO2 photocatalysis systems are resulting in a promising option, since TiO2 is commercially available. However, questions such as how to work continuously during day/night irradiation cycle, or the removing of TiO2 in outlet flow are still unresolved. In this work, a full-scale system integrating a solar CPC/UV-LED step combined with commercial microfiltration membranes was installed in a conventional WWTP for agricultural reuse purposes. After optimization, 0.5 g/L of catalyst and combined SOLAR + UV-LED showing the highest pharmaceutical removal percentages, while a self-designed UV-LED included in the own reaction tank resulting in higher efficiencies compared with commercial lamps. Longer membrane surface area decreased fouling problems in the system. However, 60 min of irradiation time was necessary to reach the most restrictive water quality values according with (EU 2020/741). After optimization step, total costs were reduced by 45%. However, it was shown that a reduction in operating and maintenance costs, along with the development of more effective and economical commercial filtration membranes is a key factor; therefore, working on these aspects is essential in the treated water cost reduction.
Graphical abstract
Collapse
|
4
|
Khojasteh D, Davani E, Shamsipour A, Haghani M, Glamore W. Climate change and COVID-19: Interdisciplinary perspectives from two global crises. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157142. [PMID: 35798107 PMCID: PMC9252874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change - two major current global crises - are far-reaching, the parallels between the two are striking, and their influence on one another are significant. Based on the wealth of evidence that has emerged from the scientific literature during the first two years of the pandemic, this study argues that these two global crises require holistic multisectoral mitigation strategies. Despite being different in nature, neither crisis can be effectively mitigated without considering their interdependencies. Herein, significant interactions between these two crises are highlighted and discussed. Major implications related to the economy, energy, technology, environment, food systems and agriculture sector, health systems, policy, management, and communities are detailed via a review of existing joint literature. Based on these outcomes, practical recommendations for future research and management are provided. While the joint timing of these crises has created a global conundrum, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated opportunities and lessons for devising sustainable recovery plans in relation to the climate crisis. The findings indicated that governments should work collaboratively to develop durable and adjustable strategies in line with long-term, global decarbonisation targets, promote renewable energy resources, integrate climate change into environmental policies, prioritise climate-smart agriculture and local food systems, and ensure public and ecosystem health. Further, differences in geographic distributions of climate change and COVID-19 related death cases revealed that these crises pose different threats to different parts of the world. These learnings provide insights to address the climate emergency - and potential future global problems with similar characteristics - if international countries act urgently and collectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danial Khojasteh
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Ehsan Davani
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Shamsipour
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Milad Haghani
- Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
| | - William Glamore
- Water Research Laboratory, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fallahiarezoudar E, Ahmadipourroudposht M, Yakideh K, Ngadiman NA. An eco-environmental efficiency analysis of Malaysia sewage treatment plants: an incorporated window-based data envelopment analysis and ordinary least square regression. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:38285-38302. [PMID: 35075563 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-18742-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Most human activities that use water produced sewage. As urbanization grows, the overall demand for water grows. Correspondingly, the amount of produced sewage and pollution-induced water shortage is continuously increasing worldwide. Ensuring there are sufficient and safe water supplies for everyone is becoming increasingly challenging. Sewage treatment is an essential prerequisite for water reclamation and reuse. Sewage treatment plants' (STPs) performance in terms of economic and environmental perspective is known as a critical indicator for this purpose. Here, the window-based data envelopment analysis model was applied to dynamically assess the relative annual efficiency of STPs under different window widths. A total of five STPs across Malaysia were analyzed during 2015-2019. The labor cost, utility cost, operation cost, chemical consumption cost, and removal rate of pollution, as well as greenhouse gases' (GHGs) emissions, all were integrated to interpret the eco-environmental efficiency. Moreover, the ordinary least square as a supplementary method was used to regress the efficiency drivers. The results indicated the particular window width significantly affects the average of overall efficiencies; however, it shows no influence on the ranking of STP efficiency. The labor cost was determined as the most influential parameter, involving almost 40% of the total cost incurred. Hence, higher efficiency was observed with the larger-scale plants. Meanwhile, the statistical regression analysis illustrates the significance of plant scale, inflow cBOD concentrations, and inflow total phosphorus concentrations at [Formula: see text] on the performance. Lastly, some applicable techniques were suggested in terms of GHG emission mitigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Fallahiarezoudar
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, East of Guilan, University of Guilan, 44918, Roudsar, Guilan, Iran.
| | - Mohaddeseh Ahmadipourroudposht
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Islamic Azad University (Lahijan Branch), Lahijan, Guilan, Iran
| | - Keikhosro Yakideh
- Department of Management, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, 41996, Rasht, Guilan, Iran
| | - NorHasrul Akhmal Ngadiman
- Department of Materials, Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|