by CHODATON ZINSOU Marthe Dominique, ADJE Adékounlé Hospice Christian, DEGBE Cossi Georges Epiphane, DOGBEDA Mawulolo Yao Azumah and SOHOU Zacharie
Original Research
Donaten’s Ecological and Biological Important Area is subject to anthropogenic pressure; resulting in its pollution. This study has enabled the assessment of pollution of its maritime part with a view to its preservation. Thus, physico-chemical parameters such as color, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, salinity, TDS were recorded in situ in three different points on the coast, two of which showed evidence potential pollution. Water samples were taken in these points for determination of BOD5 and COD, concentration of suspended solids, ammoniacal nitrogen, total nitrogen, nitrates, orthophosphate, total phosphorus, copper, zinc, lead and cadmium using standard methods. The results of physico-chemical characteristics recorded, namely temperature (29.8°C to 30.1°C), suspended solids (1.41 to 42.3 mg/L), pH (6.4 to 6.9), dissolved oxygen concentration (5.4 mg/L to 6.2 mg/L), oxygen saturation (80 to 94), salinity (29.8 to 32.1 g/L), TDS (29513 to 31533 mg/L), COD (<5 to 26 mg/L), BOD (< 1 to 18 mg/L), ammoniacal nitrogen (<0.05 to 2.89 mg/L), nitrates (0.27 to 0.32 mg/L), total kjedahl nitrogen (3.8 and 7.1 mg/L), ortho phosphate (0.002 to 0.47 mg/L), total phosphorus (0.73 to 2.2 mg/L), copper (0.01 to 1.13 mg/L), zinc (1.53 to 2.41 mg/L), lead (<0.001 at 0.022 mg/L) and cadmium (0.008 to 0.012 mg/L) revealed that Donaten’s Ecological and Biological Important Area was not polluted with organic and metallic trace elements pollutants. This study could form a basis for further scientific studies.
American Journal of Water Resources. 2022, 10(2), 68-71. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-10-2-5
Pub. Date: August 14, 2022
by Jamal A. Radaideh
Case Study
This study focuses on the actual status of groundwater in Jordan after years of depletion in the absence of programs that take care of strategies for protection and sustainability and impacted by the scarcity of natural resources, climate change, the growing population, and pollution due to increasing activities in industry and agriculture. Groundwater resources are essential and represent Jordan’s main water supply source, which necessitates careful planning and management to sustain water supply and human socio-economic development. However, these vital resources are permanently under the massive pressure of degradation by both mismanagement and over-exploitation whicht leads to contamination and a decline in water levels. This paper shows the state of groundwater resources in Jordan and deals with the weakness of groundwater as the main source of water supply and protection strategies to meet the many challenges it faces. Significant loss of saturated thickness and growing extension of unsaturated zones, inversion of flow directions toward areas of extensive groundwater abstraction, and increasing the number of dried springs are clear indicators of the severe overuse of groundwater resources. These impacts determine the reliability of groundwater for future water supplies, people’s health, and food security.
American Journal of Water Resources. 2022, 10(2), 59-67. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-10-2-4
Pub. Date: July 27, 2022
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by J.J. Dragoni-Rosado, G. Tavárez-Hernández, A. González-Mederos and A.E. Pérez-Matos
Original Research
Wastewater treatment plants are essential in reducing the microbial load of water discharged into the ecosystems by UV light. However, it has been found that some pathogenic bacteria have developed mechanisms to reverse the damage caused to their DNA by UV light, with possible adverse effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, this research evaluated if fecal indicator bacteria that use photoreactivation or dark repair are present in the wastewater from a treatment plant in Puerto Rico. Samples of wastewater treated with UV light were collected and exposed to two treatments: fluorescent light (photoreactivation) and darkness (dark repair). The number of colonies of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and enterococci was determined every hour of exposure. Results show that after exposure to fluorescent light, the number of colonies of total and fecal coliforms increased, being able to repair and reverse the damage caused to their DNA when exposed to visible light but not in darkness, possibly through the mechanism of photoreactivation. However, enterococci showed no increase in colonies when exposed to fluorescent light and kept in darkness. These results suggest reviewing the disinfection process considering photoreactivation and dark repair mechanisms. The new considerations can reduce pollution of watersheds when large amounts of treated wastewater are released into the environment.
American Journal of Water Resources. 2022, 10(2), 54-58. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-10-2-3
Pub. Date: July 27, 2022
2077 Views6 Downloads
by Kitidjo Victor Jacques SOSSOU, Waris Kéwouyèmi CHOUTI, Luc DJOGBENOU, Romaric AKOTON and Carine Nelly KELOME
Original Research
Mosquitoes are sources of nuisance and vectors of pathogenic agents for humans and animals. The fight against these insects requires a very in-depth knowledge of the ecology of their places of development. This is the reason why a study on the impact of fluoride on the development of mosquitoes was carried out in the municipality of Dassa-Zoumè, in central Benin. Thus, larval habitat has been actively sought and prospected. The physicochemical and chemical (e.g.: fluorine) parameters of the water in these development sites were measured. A total of 38 larval habitats were identified and surveyed. Most larval habitats are in the immediate environment of human populations. The characterization of the substrate at the level of these development sites has informed us about the ecological requirements of larval density. Indeed, the analysis of the results obtained shows that the individual increase in fluoride ions, salinity, turbidity, suspended matter or exposure to the sun of the site favors the increase in the number of deposits of development collected. On the other hand, the opposite effect is obtained with increasing chloride ions or hydrogen potential. In addition, the combined action of fluoride ions and a few other elements inhibits the density of larvae in the stations. These results show that to limit or inhibit the density of larvae in this region, the presence of fluoride ions combined with either a high concentration of chloride ions and / or a high amount of salinity is required.
American Journal of Water Resources. 2022, 10(2), 46-53. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-10-2-2
Pub. Date: July 15, 2022
1912 Views1 Downloads
by O.O. Akingba, O.O. Olubanjo, C.N. Emeribe, O.A. Ibanga and A.E. Alade
Original Research
Food security and sustainable supply remain a big challenge against achieving key SDGs, and this is especially the case in most Sub-Saharan African countries where extreme poverty, social unrest, terrorism, youth unemployment and corruption remain a huge setback to economic development. Climate change is further compounding these problems, with huge implications for the agricultural sector which has over 70% of the population depending on it for livelihood. Smallholder farmers are even worst hit, owing to their limited capital, lack of modern agricultural technology, little or no government supports etc. This study is therefore aimed to investigate the dimensions of changes in the climatic pattern of communities in Edo north, and the associated effects on smallholder farming operations. Primary data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussions with sampled crop famers (SCF). The study found that majority of SCF were migrant farmers (44.6 %), while the indigenous farmers only constituted about 33.4 %. In terms of type of crop(s) cultivated in the study area, 145 (28.4 %) of the respondents cultivated multiple crops (tuber/ plantain/ cereal/ vegetables), 26.6 % exclusively cultivated tuber crops (cassava/yam/ cocoyam/ potato), while 16.5 %) solely cultivated plantain/banana. Other farm types include cereal crop (rice/bean/maize/corn) 14.4 %, and vegetables (pumpkin/tomato/melon/okra) 9.5 %. Most notable evidence of climate change was extreme hot temperature in the day (n 29.5%, while extreme cold at night was 23.5%. Similarly, 19.0% of sampled crop farmers also viewed increased rainfall as notable evidence of climate change in the study area, while another 13.5% linked strong wind to climate change. Others notable evidences were flooding 9.5% and delayed, decreased and erratic rainfall with a total percentage of 5.0%. In terms of effects on farming operations, impact on fertilizer and manure application emerged as mostly affected with a weighted mean score (WMS) of 3.05. This was followed by effect on spraying of farm against pest and disease control with a WMS of 2.92, while weeding of farm and late planting ranked 3rd (WMS = 2.87). In terms of impact on the farming families, reduction in farm income and frequent washing away of valuable soil nutrient were mostly reported with the WMS of 3.56. This was followed by poor quality and quantity of yield/output (WMS = 3.42; rank = 2nd).
American Journal of Water Resources. 2022, 10(2), 35-45. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-10-2-1
Pub. Date: June 08, 2022
1935 Views7 Downloads