Waterborne Environmental, Inc.

NEWS: UK soil breakthrough could cut farm fertiliser use and advance sustainable agriculture. Research group says discovery could lead to new type of environmentally friendly farming. "Scientists in the UK have discovered a biological mechanism that makes plant roots more attractive to soil microbes. The breakthrough – by researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich,?Norfolk?– opens the door to the creation of crops requiring reduced amounts of nitrate and phosphate fertilisers, they say. “We can now think of developing a new type of environmentally friendly farming with crops that require less artificial fertiliser,” said Dr Myriam Charpentier, whose group carried out the research. Excess use of fertilisers has become a major #ecological problem in recent years and has been linked to #soildegradation, while run-offs from fields are causing major #pollution in rivers where?algae blooms?spread across the water, and kill fish and other #aquaticlife. However, the research has uncovered a route that could lead to the development of crops that could reduce this problem by helping them scavenge nutrients from the soil more effectively – by gaining a little help from #soilmicrobes. The basis of this approach is a process known as #endosymbiosis, in which one organism exists within another in a mutually beneficial relationship. This activity helps some plants to scavenge nutrients from nutrient-poor soil using the assistance of microbes in natural settings. However, in #agricultural settings, where fertilisers are used to boost yields, these disrupt the natural interaction between crops and microbes." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eXCQTGse #agriculture #fertilizer #agscience #sustainableagriculture

NEWS: New substances added to the EU's surface water watchlist It contains twelve pollutants, the impacts of which have been identified as having the possibility for widespread concern for the environment and human health. "The European Commission has adopted a new watchlist of substances in #surfacewaters suspected of posing a risk to the #environment and #humanhealth. It contains twelve #pollutants, including #pesticides and #pharmaceuticals, a #sunscreen agent, and an #antioxidant used in tyres, the impacts of which have been identified as a possible widespread concern by EU Member States' experts.???? Member States will monitor the listed substances at a limited number of monitoring stations in selected representative surface waters for at least the next two years to provide data on their concentrations and environmental presence. The data will help the Commission to determine whether the substances pose a widespread risk. If they do, they will be considered for inclusion in the list of priority substances under the #WaterFrameworkDirective – which would require Member States to agree on maximum allowable threshold values for their presence in surface waters, and to take measures, if possible, at source to reduce or phase out their #emissions." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eEKtzYsa

You may know Waterborne for its many scientists, but did you know that our team includes many #engineers as well? In honor of the recent National Engineering Week, we asked several team members the most basic of questions: why did you become an engineer? Their stories may surprise you! You can find their answers here: https://lnkd.in/ehZxjY3J #nationalengineeringweek #environmentalengineers

NEWS: The World’s Lakes Are Changing Color "Lakes are a fundamental component of terrestrial ecosystems. They not only serve as habitats for countless aquatic and terrestrial species but also play a key role in #climateregulation and the supply of #drinkingwater. Their influence extends to #agriculture, ecological balance, and atmospheric humidity. However, recent studies have revealed a concerning transformation in their composition:?the color of these bodies of water is changing, which could indicate a profound alteration in their #ecological state. A team of researchers has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the chromatic evolution of more than 67,000 lakes worldwide from 1984 to the present. The study, published in the scientific journal #WaterResourcesResearch, was based on the analysis of 32 million satellite images to assess changes in water coloration and their relationship with climatic and human factors. The results were striking: only 14% of the #lakes analyzed have maintained a stable color over time, while?an alarming 60% have undergone significant modifications. Water color?is not merely an aesthetic matter; it is a direct reflection of the physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring within it.?Bluish tones?generally indicate greater water clarity and lower concentrations of dissolved organic matter, while?greenish or brown colors?may be associated with high concentrations of algae, sediments, and pollutants. According to Zheng Duan, a researcher in physical geography at Lund University and one of the study’s authors,?there is a direct correlation between color changes and the impact of #climatechange, as well as human activity. The study revealed notable differences in the chromatic evolution of lakes depending on their geographical location. In northern latitudes, such as?North America and northern Europe, lakes have shown a more pronounced change?in coloration compared to those located near the equator or in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the exact reasons for this variability are not yet fully understood, scientists suggest that precipitation patterns, temperature, and human activity may play a determining role." Read more: https://lnkd.in/ejJrXexN #environmentalscience #waterscience

NEWS: Peruvian farmer takes Germany's RWE to court in landmark climate case. "A Peruvian farmer who says German energy giant RWE's emissions have contributed to the melting of?#Andean #glaciers, increasing the #flood risk to his home, took his case to court on Monday in a hearing that could set a precedent for #climatelitigation. The case, which began a decade ago and is now being heard in Hamm in Germany,?could deliver a landmark ruling?if the court holds the company accountable for past #emissions and requires it to help fund?climate adaptation?for affected communities. Saul Luciano?Lliuya, 44, whose family grows corn, wheat, barley and potatoes in a hilly region outside Huaraz, says he has chosen to sue RWE because it is one of the biggest #polluters in Europe -- rather than any particular company projects near his home. Using data from the #CarbonMajors database of historic production from major #fossilfuel and #cement producers, Lliuya says RWE has caused nearly 0.5% of global manmade #emissions since the industrial revolution, and should cover a proportional share of the costs of the #globalwarming they have caused. RWE, which is phasing out its coal-fired #powerplants, says a single emitter of carbon dioxide cannot be held responsible for global warming. "If such a claim were to exist under German law, it would also be possible to hold every motorist liable," it said in a statement. Sebastien Duyck, senior attorney with the Center for International Environmental Law, said: "Legal experts are watching closely to understand the extent to which this is going ... to set a strong precedent." " Read more: https://lnkd.in/eYGWK3DS

NEWS: Water-based reactors offer pharmaceutical industry a safer alternative to toxic solvents. The breakthrough promises to transform pharmaceutical manufacturing by enabling chemical reactions in water, reducing reliance on hazardous organic solvents. "A new water-based reactor system, developed by scientists at Rice University, promises to bring significant advances to?#pharmaceutical manufacturing. By using specialised nanostructures called #micelles, the technology allows #chemical reactions to take place in water, rather than relying on potentially harmful and toxic solvents such as #dicholoromethane and #toluene. The innovation beckons a major shift in #industrialchemistry, helping companies to reduce solvent waste, improve workplace safety, and lower production costs." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eWxgN9Vh #environmentalscience #pharmaceuticalmanufacturing

NEWS: Salt influx from land and sea spells ‘double trouble’ for drinking water. "An influx of salt from both land and sea and a warming world are condemning the world's rivers, streams and estuaries to a "saltier future,"?according to a new study led by University of Maryland Geology Professor Sujay Kaushal in collaboration with researchers from other institutions. Published in a special edition of the journal?#Biogeochemistry, their?research tells a comprehensive story of #freshwater #salinization—rising concentrations of salt ions in bodies of fresh water worldwide—and offers a framework for predicting and preventing the issue. Researchers strive to find solutions to freshwater salinization because it affects #ecosystems and animals adapted to certain?#salinity levels?and can hamper public utilities and food production.?Roughly 70% of #drinkingwater in the United States comes from?surface waters?such as #rivers, and higher concentrations of salt can be difficult and costly to remove. Fresh water is also used to irrigate crops and run power plants, and excessively salty waters can corrode infrastructure like wastewater pipes, bridges and underwater cables. Kaushal has studied land-based sources of #saltcontamination for more than 20 years and?previously led research?that found that road salt, mining,?land development?and other human activities are accelerating the natural "salt cycle," or the movement of salts to Earth's surface. In their new study, Kaushal and his co-authors also assessed the threat of saltwater intrusion—the mixing of ocean water with fresh water—of coastal water supplies along tidal rivers." Read more: https://lnkd.in/euGPz__i #climatechange #waterscience #environmentalscience #agscience

NEWS: Water’s Hidden Side Revealed – It Can Exist in Two Liquid Forms at Once. "Scientists have found that water, under extreme pressure and cold temperatures, can split into two different liquid phases. This was theorized decades ago but never proven—until now. Advanced #molecularsimulations, leveraging #AI and #quantummechanics, have made it possible to model this elusive behavior, hinting at potential future applications in materials science and #environmentaltechnology. Researchers at the UC San Diego have uncovered another remarkable property of #water. Under extreme pressure and low temperatures, liquid water can separate into two distinct liquid phases—one denser than the other. This discovery, published in?#NaturePhysics, provides new insight into water’s complex behavior. Francesco Paesani, a professor of #chemistry and #biochemistry at UC San Diego, leads a team that combines chemistry, physics, and computer science to develop advanced models of molecular behavior. Using?#machinelearning and computational algorithms, his group creates highly realistic simulations that closely match experimental observations." Read more: https://lnkd.in/e2YQMESV #environmentalscience #waterscience

Spring is in the air and with it Waterborne's Field Studies scientists are turning their heads toward Volatility Monitoring Studies. In our latest blog post Waterborne Principal and Manager of our Field Studies teams, Jennifer Trask, looks at the, "Delicate Dance of Volatility Monitoring." In it, she discusses finding the perfect location, creating the right setup (even if that requires retrofitting tools to do the job!), and, finally, what can be tested with these studies. You can read her blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eq8yssfX #fieldstudies #volatilitymonitoring #environmentalscience #agscience

Will you be at the #NationalWaterQualityMonitoringCouncil (NWQMC)'s National Monitoring Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this week, March 10th-14th? Our own Martha Gerig, PhD, will be presenting and taking meetings. If you'd like to set up a meeting with Martha, contact us here: https://lnkd.in/eFasivQM Learn more about the Conference here: https://lnkd.in/e9337htd #NWQMC #waterquality