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The contamination of groundwater by natural arsenic is currently a worldwide epidemic. Arsenic-contaminated groundwater has been reported in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, China, Hungary, West Bengal in India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Of these regions, Bangladesh and West Bengal are the most seriously affected in terms of the size of the population at risk and magnitude of health problems. Hence, chronic exposure to arsenic >50′′μg/L in drinking water can result in serious health problems. Common symptoms of arsenic-related ailments are skin, cardiovascular, renal, hematological, and respiratory disorders. Therefore, this chapter focuses on nature, origin, and extent of groundwater arsenic contamination, probable causes, and its impacts on food, drinking water, and social coverage. It further discloses mitigation approaches proposed and practiced by the different research groups to combat this problem and finally concludes.

The moist periods with high precipitation and periods of atmospheric droughts are a potential great hazard to the functioning of ecosystems and different sectors of the national economy in the Lublin region. Therefore, a recognition of time variability of these atmospheric phenomena and the conditions of their occurrence are the main aims of this paper.

The analysis of the precipitation‐free periods was based on the meteorological data from the years 1951‐2009 recorded in the Meteorological Observatory of the Maria Curie‐Skłodowska University in Lublin. Main hydrological data concerning dynamics of groundwater table and surface water table came from the measurement network of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management.

Very long precipitation‐free periods, lasting over 20 days, appeared only seven times – once a year in 1953, 1956, 1959, 1971, 1983, and twice in 2000. Since the 1980s, the number of precipitation‐free periods has been decreasing parallel to the higher frequency of downpours and increasing annual precipitation totals. In the years 1981‐1994, the following phenomena were observed in the Lublin region: decrease of river mean discharges, groundwater‐table lowering, lowering of lake surfaces, disappearance of springs, and the shortening of the upper reaches of rivers. However, replenishment of water resources and more frequent meteorological extreme events have been recorded in the Lublin region since the second half of the 1990s. Therefore, local flood and inundations have occurred, and flood hazard in larger river valleys has increased.

Examination of time variability of these atmospheric phenomena and conditions of their occurrence should contribute to the development of effective ways and techniques of management of water resources in the regional economy in order to reduce economic losses.

The purpose of this paper is to indicate the limitations of the studies that address the impact of climate change on groundwater resources and to suggest an improved approach.

A general review, both from a groundwater hydrological and a climatological viewpoint, is given, oriented on the impact of climate change on groundwater resources.

The impact of climate change on groundwater resources is not the subject of many studies in the scientific literature. Only rarely sophisticated downscaling techniques are applied to downscale estimated global circulation model (GCM) future precipitation series for a point or region of interest. Often it is not taken into account that different climate models calculate considerably different precipitation amounts (conceptual uncertainty). The joint downscaling of the meteorological variables that govern potential evapotranspiration (ET) is never done in the context of a study that assessed the impact of climate change on groundwater resources. It is desirable that actual ET is calculated in (groundwater) hydrological models on a physical basis, i.e. by coupling the energy and water balance at the Earth's surface.

This review signalises a number of problems with published studies on the impact of climate change on groundwater resources. In many studies the method to downscale meteorological variables from a climate model to a hydrological model is not adequate. ET is often calculated in a strongly simplified manner and not all hydrological processes are modelled in a fully coupled fashion. More sophisticated downscaling approaches, physically based schemes to calculate ET and well‐calibrated, integrative hydrological models are needed.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the long‐term corrosion behavior of cast iron coupons in the Jubail Industrial City (JIC), Saudi Arabia.

The samples were exposed under atmospheric, underground, and splash zone conditions, at Khaleej Mardumah Test Station (KMTS) in Jubail. Soil, groundwater, seawater and air particulate samples were collected at the exposure sites and were analyzed. Secondary electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to examine the surface morphology of the test coupons and identify the corrosion products developed on the surface of the metals. The corrosion rates of the coupons were determined by weight loss method.

The results showed that the atmosphere, underground and splash zone conditions all were very corrosive to cast iron, due to temperature and humidity variations as well as the high chloride and sulfate concentrations in the region. The splash zone was the most corrosive regime of the three test zones. The main corrosive ions in the environments were identified as chloride and sulfate. The maximum chloride and sulfate concentrations were measured to be 8.94 and 49.65 μg/m³ in atmosphere, 8,040 and 1,410 ppm in soil, and 29,500 and 5,770 mg/l in seawater, respectively. The corrosion rates of cast irons were found to be 343‐536 μm/y in splash zone, 90‐214 μm/y in underground, and 22‐27 μm/y in atmosphere. Compared to other parts of the world, the soil, marine and atmospheric environments at the selected test site are very corrosive.

In this paper, corrosion of cast iron is presented in atmospheric, soil and splash zone conditions along the eastern coast of the Arabian Gulf.

The purpose of this study was to determine the atmospheric corrosion behavior of aluminium (Al) exposed to the industrial and coastal environments of northeastern Arabian Peninsula for a period of 15 months.

The samples were exposed under atmospheric, underground and splatter zone conditions at the coastal region. Soil, groundwater, seawater and air particulate samples obtained from the exposure site were analyzed. Secondary electron microscopy was used to identify and study the microstructural features of the corrosion products formed at the surface of the test coupons. The corrosion rates of the samples were determined by the weight loss method.

The results showed that Al exhibited a moderate corrosion rate despite high degree of variation in temperature and humidity and large concentrations of chloride and sulfate in this region. Splatter zone environment was the most corrosive because of high chloride concentrations in seawater and the alternating wetting–drying cycles.

In this paper, corrosion of Al was evaluated in atmospheric, soil and splatter zone conditions along the northeastern coast of Arabian Peninsula and was also compared with the results of the test reported for other international locations.

This study aims to test the role of the state of occupation, represented in Israel, as one of the most significant challenges, which faces the Jordanian water security. Where Israel expands in its policy and ideology everyday its hydro-hegemony over the Jordanian waters. Hence, its acts result in negative consequences on the Jordanian water and food security, which in turn affects the Jordanian national security as a whole.

This study relied on the following two approached to tackle its problem: first: descriptive approach: the descriptive approach depends on defining the apparent features and describing their nature and the type of the relationship between its variables. It aims to achieving a better and deeper understanding on the situation of its future policies and measures. And research uses the system analysis approach to handle the subject matter. Given the influence of water on the development, Jordan, as an organic or a political and social state, takes into account the reasons and causes of development. Jordan turns into an active political state, with water as an influencing factor on it. This premise represents the core of the system analysis approach.

The research concluded that the Israeli theft of the Jordanian waters is the main factor in the Jordanian water crisis. If Jordan had received its usurped water rights by Israel, it could have been able to solve its water issue represented in the increasing deficit in its water balance. Therefore, the Israeli hydro-hegemony on the Jordanian water resources caused the imbalance in its water security and, in turn, caused the development process to falter in general.

The value of the research lies in the fact that it addresses the most important reasons behind the water crisis in Jordan, represented in the Israeli control over the Jordanian water resources and the research shows that the amount of water stolen by Israel is enough to solve the water crisis in Jordan.

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to establish the pattern of multi‐objective and multi‐dimensional grey fuzzy forecasting with feedback based on the theories of grey system and fuzzy recognition.

First, according to the given weights, the weighting integrated value of samples were computed. Second, the method of fuzzy recognition with single index was employed to calculate the fuzzy classification of the integrated value. According to the cause analysis, the fuzzy classification of the integrated value is used to compute the weights of indexes. In the same way, repeating the above processes, the weighting integrated value and fuzzy classification with given accuracy are retrieved at the same time. Finally, the authors calculate the correlation coefficient between the weighting integrated values and forecasting objects, according to the principle of maximal relativity, optimizing the weighting integrated value of samples, establishing the fuzzy forecasting pattern, and checking the model's precision. A numeric example is also computed in the last part of the paper.

The results are convincing: not only that the pattern of multi‐objective and multi‐dimensional grey fuzzy forecasting with feedback based is valid, but also the model's applied prediction accuracy is higher, where the test samples' mean forecast accuracy of groundwater dynamic levels is 96.50 percent.

The method exposed in the paper can be used to predict groundwater dynamic levels and even for other similar forecast problems.

The paper succeeds in realising both a prediction pattern and application of predicting groundwater dynamic levels by using the newest developed theories of grey system and fuzzy recognition.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the scale of changes in the distribution of water and their influence on the components of the hydrological balance in two lake catchments situated in the Leczna-Wlodawa Lake District.

In order to estimate the scale of man-made modification of water distribution an analysis of published cartographic materials was used. The maps cover time-scale of over 150 years. The analysis was completed by territorial research carried out during water years 2007-2009. The elements of water balance equation were calculated on the basis of daily water levels, discharge, precipitations and lake volumes. Evaporation was calculated as the difference of balance gains and losses (runoff deficit).

The study has shown high permanent human pressure on lake-catchment systems under study, since the 50 of the nineteenth century. Naturally drainless lakes were connected to the system of surface runoff, which modified radically directions and pace of water circulation. The most pronounced hydrologic changes of the lake-catchment systems under study occurred in the 60 of the twentieth century. Human pressure on water conditions resulted in changes of water balance elements relation (increased surface inflow and outflow).

In the ecosystems with zonal watersheds, even slight modification of water distribution may lead to radical changes in the structure of lake-catchment systems’ water balance. The paper is first in polish literature that documents major water divide translocation, as well as bifurcation in the drainage area of the highest cascade lake. Man-made modifications cause natural ecosystems degradation, especially in the areas built with peat-bogs.

▪ Students learn how an educational institute impacts water resources on the campus and its surrounding community.

▪ Students acquire knowledge on how decision-making, related to natural resources, is influenced by the institute’s obligations towards surrounding communities and the long-term sustainability of the resources.

▪ Students become acquainted with the decision-making process adopted by an educational institute for achieving resource-efficient development on the campus.

▪ Students learn how to design evaluation methods for investments related to water conservation at an educational institute.

▪ Students become proficient with the payback method specifically when evaluating water-enhancing projects at an educational campus.

Dr Ajit Parulekar, Director at Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa, India, was evaluating options to improve the sources of water at GIM at the beginning of 2021. He was reviewing the projects proposed to meet the water requirement at the campus for the next five years (2021–2025). The projects were recommended by consultants (ENV Consultants Pvt Ltd) who proposed a total expenditure of US$68,667 which involved storage enhancement and water table upgradation (See Case Exhibit 11). The maintenance department had studied the plans but their projections showed that the execution of these projects and initiatives would still lead to a deficit of water in the future. Dr Parulekar reviewed the reports and weighed the expected tangible and intangible benefits from the proposed projects. The projects had to be carefully selected, keeping in mind the multiple objectives to be met: an increase in water supply within a short time, a financially optimum investment and a minimum impact on the surrounding community. The selected projects had to meet the long-term sustainability objective of resource efficiency at the campus.

Students studying finance, project appraisal, campus sustainability at graduate or postgraduate management programs.

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

CSS 4: Environmental Management.

China is among one of the oldest civilizations in the world. The massive land mass of China also means that the Chinese people are subject to weather extremes as well as topographical variety in a country which cuts across alpine heights, treacherous deserts, lush valleys, dusty plains and lengthy rivers. With these weather extremes as the backdrop, it is crucial for the Chinese people to develop appropriate environmental control techniques for their dwellings as well as to ensure the structural integrity of their buildings. This paper discusses the protection, heating, anti‐seismic and dampness techniques developed and implemented in ancient China. It also documents the measures taken by the ancient Chinese to ensure the structural integrity of their buildings. The examples highlighted in this paper suggest that the building science principles adopted in ancient China remain relevant in the construction industry today.