Proceedings of the 4th International Conference (ICoWEFS 2024)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Frontmatter

2. Chapter 1. Assessing Ecological Quality on the Rocky Coast of Abalo Beach, Portugal

   Teresa Mouga

   Abstract

   Portugal’s rich marine biodiversity, home to approximately 550 seaweed species, is distributed across biogeographical regions influenced by Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Human-induced stressors, including habitat degradation, pollution, and climate change, have impacted seaweed ecosystems, changed the distribution patterns and promoting the invasion of alien species. This paper evaluates the ecological dynamics of seaweed communities on the rocky coast of Abalo Beach, Portugal, using the Marine Macroalgae Assessment Tool (MarMAT) in 2022 and 2023. The MarMAT methodology, endorsed by the Portuguese Environment Agency, assesses the ecological quality of coastal areas based on taxonomic composition, diversity, and biomass of macroalgae. The assessment revealed different percentages of late-successional species (ESGI) and annual (ESGII) seaweeds, indicating a subtle decrease in late-successional species. Of concern is the increase in invasive species from one in 2009 to six in 2023, suggesting a potential threat to ecosystem integrity. Comparative analysis with previous studies confirms the ongoing ecological quality and resilience of Abalo Beach. The article underscores the importance of continuous monitoring amid environmental changes and the rise of invasive species.

3. Chapter 2. Circular Economy Model for Valorization of By-Products and Effluents from a Portuguese Olive Oil Production Unit

   Ana Paula Ramos, Cândida Vilarinho, José Paulo Mota, Margarida Gonçalves

   Abstract

   All the by-products from a two-phase olive oil mill, including olive pomace, stones, leaves, and raw vegetation water were collected and characterized. The two-phase olive pomace was further fractionated by filtration and dried to determine recovered liquid phase and dry weight. Using the obtained results and literature data were proposed two scenarios for the valorization of olive mill by-products following an approach focused on the promotion of circular economy and mitigation of GHG emissions. Scenario I involves drying the two-phase olive pomace while scenario II proposes filtration to remove excess water followed by drying. This last option (scenario II) would help to reduce the costs and carbon footprint of transporting wet olive pomace to units that extract residual oil and allows the use of smaller drying units. Decentralized filtration and drying of two-phase pomace is therefore an alternative to improve the quality and added value of the olive mill by-products thus supporting small producers. On the other hand, this option requires the implementation of sustainable methods for liquid effluents distillation and water recovery preferably using renewable energy sources.

4. Chapter 3. Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Rainfall Erosivity (RUSLE R-Factor) in Ecuadorian Basins: An Analysis of the Last Century

   Daniel Delgado, Pablo Farfán-Intriago, Olga Briones-Ordoñez, María Pita-Mera

   Abstract

   Soil erosion induced by rainfall stands out as a prominent concern within contemporary natural phenomena. A retrospective analysis is required to better understand the behavior of the erosion process within a territory. However, the lack of an adequate local database of precipitations can be considered one of the main limitations to be able to approach this type of work. The objective of this investigation is to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution of the RUSLE R-Factor from 1901 to 2020 using satellite raster information and local approaches. The methodology entailed delineating hydrographic basins based on regional literature sources; the use of GPCC precipitation databases at pixel scale and; calculating rainfall erosivity using a national methodology. The results showed a high spatial variability of the R-Factor among the Ecuadorian basins, but a low variability over every twenty years up to the year 2000. Rainfall erosivity was identified as a crucial element to identify more precisely the trends over the years in relation to rainfall.

5. Chapter 4. RUSLE C-Factor Estimation from Remote Sensing in Ecuadorian Basin Over the Period 2001–2020

   Daniel Delgado, Bolívar Ortega-Bravo, Irene Caballero, Marjory Caballero

   Abstract

   Soil erosion by rainfall is an Environmental problem that is intensified by the lack of attention to the quality of land cover. Examining land use and land cover is essential to pinpoint regions with a high susceptibility to rainfall erosion and develop strategies for sustainable conservation. However, the lack of information related to the correct registration of crop types throughout the Ecuadorian territory, together with a local mapping of soil cover types, are the main limitation of this analysis. Hence, the primary aim of this study is to calculate the RUSLE C-Factor through a methodological approach that uses information from remote sensing in the Ecuadorian territory. The methodology consisted of delimiting the study area, obtaining NDVI data from 2001 to 2020 to calculate the C-Factor using a widely used equation. The outcomes indicated considerable variability in the C-Factor across the basins of Ecuador, registering lower values in the ATBs, which is attributed to the existence of greater rainfall and the appearance of a better percentage of forests in the soil cover.

6. Chapter 5. Ornamental Plants for Urban Wastewater Hydroponic Treatment

   Ounísia Santos, Judite Vieira, Ana Rita Lado Ribeiro, Helena Pala Sousa

   Abstract

   Water resource management is essential for human survival and one of the key activities for sustainable development. Environmentally friendly wastewater treatment and reutilization are focus approaches to achieve good qualitative and quantitative water status, thus hydroponic systems have been studied as tools to treat wastewater while offering the possibility to generate income through the commercialization of the produced crops. This study evaluates the potential of ornamental plant usage for hydroponic wastewater treatment, with the monitorization of morphological crop growth parameters and wastewater physicochemical quality parameters. From the selection of eight species, Petunia x hybrid, Tagetes patula, Antirrhinum majus, Calendula officinalis, and Dianthus chinensis, performed better in the wastewater hydroponic system. Removal percentages of contaminants in the system were up to 99.4% of BOD₅, 87.4% of COD, 98.7% of N, 100% of K, 78.9% of Ca, 98.4% of Mg, and 91.6% of PO₄, with the wastewater quality being compatible with local discharge parameters by the end of crop growth. The systems can efficiently recover the wastewater and produce viable crops. The reclaimed wastewater can potentially be used for different purposes as an alternative to freshwater usage.

7. Chapter 6. Greenhouse Digitalization and Water Irrigation Nutrient Liquid Management

   João Galvão, Daniel Vitória, Miguel Jesus, Vânia Ribeiro, Filipe Neves

   Abstract

   Agriculture plays a vital role for society and in particular production in greenhouses where there is intensive food production. Since man stopped being nomadic, man has adapted agriculture techniques to cope with new human and society needs by using technological advances. With the use of greenhouses to produce food goods and the need to automate, control and optimize plant growth, new challenges have arisen, such as: setting up the correct temperatures, humidity, nutrients, among other parameters as well as collect respective values, in order to optimize them. This task, if carried out manually, constitutes a considerable burden, which must be avoided the main objective of this work was to contribute to the automation of such tasks. This way, a prototype to read and supply such parameters to the greenhouse administrator has been developed in a real case-study. It interconnects several sensors permitting collect data from the liquid nutrient supply process and send this information through a data network and, thus, providing company managers with the convenient, pre-stablished chemical values: pH, electroconductivity, humidity of the substrate as well as volume of irrigation mixture essential to plant growth (water and nutrients). By a dashboard, it is possible for the greenhouse manager to monitor several points of the greenhouse, under study, designing a digitalized and automated process in these operations to control the variables mentioned, ensuring that waste of water and nutrients is avoided and consequently optimizing irrigation, and plant growth processes, by replacing the manual process. The use of such prototype device permits to solve the problem of data collection, frequent manual measurements by replacing it with an automatic process, which becomes more efficient, accurate, sustainable, with better water performance, increases resilience to climate change, promotes food security, improves nutrition and protects the environment and biodiversity.

8. Chapter 7. Estimating the Economic Leakage Level in the Water Distribution Systems of Tangier and Kenitra, Morocco

   Belarrem Fatima Ezzahra, Ben Hachmi Mohammed Karim, Nelson Carriço

   Abstract

   The main objective of this study is to estimate the Economic Level of Leakage in Tangier and Kenitra, two prominent cities in Morocco. This aims to enhance the efficiency of their water distribution systems by determining the optimal leakage level. Our approach helps water companies identify the point where the costs of further leakage reduction outweigh the benefits of water conservation. The findings demonstrate commendable efforts by Tangier and Kenitra in managing their water distribution systems. Our study reveals that Kenitra's economic leakage level is 12.7 m³/connection/year, while Tangier's stands notably higher at 70 m³/connection/year.

9. Chapter 8. Priorities in the Portuguese Water Sector: A Comparison Between Upstream and Downstream Water Utilities

   Bruno J. Cardoso, Nuno Rosa, Adélio R. Gaspar, Álvaro Gomes

   Abstract

   Energy efficiency has been promoted in several activity sectors to improve their economic and environmental performance. The water sector has been no exception, given its significant dependence on energy to provide essential services to society. However, despite the incentives given to implement energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives, there are few studies analyzing how this issue fits into the priorities and strategies of the water sector worldwide. By conducting questionnaires to employees from different areas and departments of Portuguese water and wastewater utilities, this study contributes to this gap in the literature by identifying the main priorities for the next decade for upstream and downstream utilities, making it possible to understand the main concerns of utilities and the divergent importance given to energy efficiency. The results show that upstream utilities consider broader objectives strongly linked to sustainability, such as promoting energy efficiency, as the most important. In turn, downstream utilities are forced to prioritize short-term objectives that help guarantee the service continuity and quality, such as reducing water losses. Finally, this study highlights that the definition of energy and sector-oriented policies must consider and be adapter to the distinct characteristics and realities of upstream and downstream utilities to leverage energy efficiency adoption.

10. Chapter 9. Estimation the Economic Level of Non-revenue Water (ENRW) in Water Distribution Systems: A Comparative Study of Al-Hoceima City and Marrakech City, Morocco

    Belarrem Fatima Ezzahra, Bem Hachmi Mohammed Karim, Nelson Carriço

    Abstract

    The global challenge of declining water availability, combined with increasing demand, has led many countries, including Morocco, to face water shortages. To tackle this issue, a key strategy is to reduce water losses in distribution systems to a sustainable level. This article examines this important issue, focusing on two Moroccan cities, Al-Hoceima and Marrakesh. Our main goal is to evaluate the economic level of non-revenue water. To do this, we use the cumulative cost–benefit method, which helps us determine the economic level of non-revenue water in both cities. In 2021, we found that in Al-Hoceima, the level of non-revenue water was below the economic level, suggesting that Al-Hoceima’s strategy may not be economically viable. However, in Marrakesh, the level of non-revenue water slightly exceeded the economic level, indicating a need for reassessment and possibly increased investment in controlling non-revenue water.

11. Chapter 10. Study of Iron Content in Drinking Water: Ukrainian Case from the Territories Affected by Military Actions

    Yevgen Zbykovskyy, Viacheslav Kaulin, Ihor Shvets, Iryna Shvets

    Abstract

    The quality of drinking water has always been an extremely topical problem for the eastern regions of Ukraine. In the region of hostilities, the population receives drinking water of unsatisfactory quality. The evacuation of environmental and water laboratories from the region of hostilities made it impossible to monitor the quality of drinking water. The influence of temperature and acidity on the dynamics of iron concentration in drinking water as well as the process of transition of iron into an insoluble form were studied by spectrophotometric method with 1,10-phenanthroline. It is recommended to preserve drinking water with acid to the level of pH = 1 under the impossibility to carry out analysis immediately after collecting water samples. It has been established that for an unacidified water sample, it should be heated immediately before analysis in the presence of hydrochloric acid. Correspondence of drinking water with quality requirements for iron content can only be established by determining the content of total iron in all its species.

12. Chapter 11. Kinetic Study and Photoreactivation of Waterborne Fungal Spores Under Ultraviolet Light

    Paola Duque-Sarango, Nicole Delgado-Armijos, Leonardo Romero-Martínez, Verónica Pinos

    Abstract

    In recent years, disinfection by ultraviolet (UV) light has been the subject of increasing interest, especially in relation to its efficacy against bacteria. However, its impact on fungi has been much less explored. In this study, we focused on investigating how two types of filamentous fungi react to exposure to UV inactivation, using a continuous flow ultraviolet light reactor (FTR-UV) containing a low-pressure mercury lamp. Our main objective was to understand the inactivation and reactivation characteristics of these fungi. To carry out the study, we suspended Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. spores in distilled water adjusted to a pH of 7.20 and exposed them to different doses of UV radiation as they passed through the reactor. Subsequently, we analysed the effects of inactivation and possible reactivation of the spores over a 24-h period, under both light and dark conditions. This approach allowed us to obtain detailed data on the efficacy of UV light in inactivating these fungi and to assess the conditions under which they might reactivate, providing a more complete picture of the potential of UV disinfection in the control of filamentous fungi.