Impacts of land use/land cover on water quality: a contemporary review for researchers and policymakers

Water Quality Research Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 22, 2024

Abstract Few factors are as important in determining water quality land use/land cover (LULC). Many use activities, including agriculture, urban development, mining, and commercial forestry, tend to be sources of diffuse pollution. By contrast, indigenous vegetation can act a sink, thus providing some protection from anthropogenic contamination. Notwithstanding the large body research demonstrating these facts, decision-makers require clear accessible information assist them developing effective management plans that fully cognisant manifold impacts LULC on resources. Reviewing available literature, this article, therefore, offers critical overview typical quality. An strategy for managing highlighted article is maintenance sufficient amount unfragmented natural vegetation, not only within riparian zones but also across catchment areas. However, knowledge gaps identified review indicate further context-specific required determine types minimum vegetative protect resources pollution potential impact landscape fragmentation ability A discussion therefore provided.

Language: Английский

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Payment for Water-Related Ecosystem Services as a Strategic Watershed Management Approach

Journal of Environmental Protection, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(08), P. 660 - 684

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) have been created worldwide to assist watershed management and improve or maintain water quality. Considering their importance, we conducted a holistic review of payment water-related understand how this instrument has applied in worldwide. First, identified the actions considered by PES programs challenges implementing PES. After methods criteria used define priority areas Our articles published on Web Science from 2011 2022. We found 236 relating resources, highlighting main conservation strategies: native vegetation conservation, restoration, best agricultural practices. The method most frequent was interview, followed use technologies, document analysis, hydrological models. Another significant result that receiving are mainly riparian zones, near with cover, higher erosion potential, steep areas, socially vulnerable communities. This crucial identify efficient resource strategies potential implementation development programs.

Language: Английский

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Evaluating land use impacts on water quality: perspectives for watershed management

Sustainable Water Resources Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(6)

Published: Nov. 22, 2023

Abstract Human activities threaten the integrity of watersheds. We aimed to investigate impact land use on water quality, adopting a multiscale approach. collected samples from twelve streams in Southern Brazil and conducted limnological analyses (physical, chemical, biological) during dry season. used quality index based standards Canada Brazil. Land percentage was measured two groups (local scale network scale). Environmental variables were summarized through Principal Component Analysis, we organized them into Linear Models, integrating classes terrain slope Multifit formula. Statistical performed using R software. Results indicated contamination by lead, chromium, copper, nitrogen, Escherichia coli samples. The Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for Protection Aquatic Life resulted an ranging 23.3 47.3, compared Brazilian Resolution No. 357/2005 Class 2, which had 47.5 100. This disparity is attributed more rigorous sensitive monitoring approach adopted guidelines. Riparian forests are up 50 m wide associated with improved quality. Agricultural urban main contributors degradation area extending 1000 watershed. emphasize importance watershed management public policies, considering not only riparian forest preservation, but also human throughout It crucial prioritize science-based environmental policies strengthen enforcement prevent increasingly pronounced collapses. have identified urgency reformulate CONAMA conservationist ecosystem-oriented approach, as well propose modifications Forest Code, particularly regarding buffer zones permanent preservation areas. Thus, this study can provide insights, such incorporating “effect scale,” enhance resource landscapes heavily influenced action, contributing advancement future research freshwater ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Forest Dieback in Drinking Water Protection Areas—A Hidden Threat to Water Quality

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract For centuries, forests have been considered a safeguard for drinking water quality. However, unprecedented pulses of forest dieback globally caused by the rising frequency and intensity droughts may jeopardize forests' crucial role in protecting quality, potentially even turning into sources contamination. To underscore critical importance topic, here we provide first comprehensive assessment cover, type, across Water Protection Areas (WPAs) Germany, one countries hit Central European drought 2018–2020. Our findings reveal high cover 43% WPAs, from which substantial amount 4.8% canopy got lost within only 3 years. Spruce‐dominated were particularly susceptible, but other dominant tree species also experienced anomalously mortality rates. Combining this with exemplary records nitrate concentrations groundwater WPAs revealed that can significantly impair On average, more than doubled severe dieback, whereas did not change undisturbed WPAs. found pronounced differences between affected underlining need further data research to derive generalizable understanding underlying mechanisms controls. Based on assessment, deduce knowledge gaps essential developing well‐informed adaptation mitigation strategies. We call interdisciplinary addressing hidden threat poses our resources.

Language: Английский

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Native forest cover safeguards stream water quality under a changing climate

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(7)

Published: July 14, 2021

Ensuring a sufficient and adequate supply of water for humans ecosystems is pressing environmental challenge. The expansion agricultural urban lands has jeopardized watershed ecosystem services changing climate poses additional risks regional supply. We used stream quality data collected between 2000 2014, coupled with detailed precipitation land cover information, to investigate the effects landscape composition short-term variability on resources in state São Paulo, Brazil. home over 45 million people long history human modification. A severe drought 2014-2015 led major crisis highlighted fragility system. found that human-dominated watersheds had lower overall when compared forested watersheds, showing most detrimental impacts quality. Forest was associated better across studied having low turbidity high dissolved oxygen. High increased fecal coliforms levels oxygen streams but these depended cover. diluted concentrations nitrogen solids highly urbanized exacerbated pasture-dominated watersheds. Given costs treatment densely populated regions, there need plan manage landscapes order ensure resources. In tropical maintaining or restoring native vegetation promising intervention sustain

Language: Английский

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Dispersed Urban‐Stormwater Control Improved Stream Water Quality in a Catchment‐Scale Experiment

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 58(12)

Published: Nov. 15, 2022

Abstract Traditional urban drainage degrades receiving waters. Alternative approaches have potential to protect downstream waters, but widespread adoption requires robust demonstration of their feasibility and effectiveness. We conducted a catchment‐scale experiment over 19 years assess the effect dispersed stormwater control measures (SCMs), measured as reduction in effective imperviousness ( EI ) on stream water quality six sites two streams. compared changes those 7 decreased, 12 preceding years, three reference SCMs reduced phosphorus concentrations summer temperature levels dry weather where was sufficiently reduced, effects were smaller with increased antecedent rain. also nitrogen which influenced by septic tank seepage all sites. had no suspended solids concentrations, lower than electrical conductivity: along this is evidence contribution groundwater baseflows. This strengthens inference that increases contaminant streams, demonstrates such impacts are reversible likely preventable. Variation degree improvement among experimental suggests achieving would require large retention capacity intercepting runoff from nearly impervious surfaces, thus requiring more downslope space demand. useful metric for predicting responses SCMs, allowing better catchment prioritization SCM design standards protection.

Language: Английский

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Water quality modulations under influence of rainfall and land cover in a mountain basin in southeast Brazil

Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 105403 - 105403

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Modeling solutions for microbial water contamination in the global south for public health protection

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16

Published: April 2, 2025

Microbial contamination of water sources is a pressing global challenge, disproportionately affecting developing regions with inadequate infrastructure and limited access to safe drinking water. In the Global South, waterborne pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminths contribute diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, resulting in severe public health burdens. Predictive modeling emerges pivotal tool addressing these challenges, offering data-driven insights anticipate events optimize mitigation strategies. This review highlights application predictive techniques-including machine learning, hydrological simulations, quantitative microbial risk assessment -to identify hotspots, forecast pathogen dynamics, inform resource allocation South. models enable targeted actions improve safety lower prevalence by combining environmental, socioeconomic, climatic factors. Water resources South are increasingly vulnerability contamination, challenge exacerbated rapid urbanization, climate variability, insufficient sanitation infrastructure. underscores importance region-specific approaches. Case studies from sub-Saharan Africa Asia demonstrated efficacy tools guiding connected environmental matrices, prioritizing treatment efforts implementing early-warning systems during extreme weather events. Furthermore, explores integrating advanced technologies, remote sensing artificial intelligence, into frameworks, highlighting their potential accuracy scalability resource-constrained settings. Increased funding for data collecting, tools, cross-sectoral cooperation between local communities, non-governmental organizations, governments all recommended review. Such critical resilient capable withstanding stressors ensuring sustainable By leveraging core component management strategies, stakeholders can address challenges effectively, safeguard health, achieving United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Language: Английский

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SFI Fiber Sourcing Certification Associated with Suspended Sediment Load Reductions in Georgia, USA

Trees Forests and People, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100880 - 100880

Published: May 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity is central for restoration

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 34(9), P. R371 - R379

Published: May 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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