July Edition

Well folks, we're already diving into this second part of the year, full of events and more to come. Soon you'll find out what Water Science Policy has been up to; but what we can tell you right now is that all will be clear on this 2023 World Water Week. So make sure to tune in on our social media channels, because change is going to come for the better.

While you wait, here are some of the topics featured during the month of July at WSP, including your usual articles, policy briefs, job opportunities within our organisation and team recognitions on the amazing work that is being constantly done behind the scenes:

In several French municipalities, Hortense Chauvin remarks how desalination of seawater emerges as a seemingly attractive solution but proves to be an ecological disaster. Meanwhile, the fishing industry faces sustainability issues that need urgent attention and, on a different note, urban stream restoration raises debates over cost-benefit analyses.

The role of knowledge in protecting water from pesticides becomes evident, emphasising the importance of people's actions; and scuba diving ecotourism emerges as a potential driver for marine conservation and the blue economy. Finally, in Ethiopia, we find out that participatory water resource management shows promising impacts, and we also realise that, overall, safeguarding rivers is crucial for protecting the ocean's health.

Now that you've read part of what's been going on, maybe you're willing to go a little further... After all, information in abundance is better than the small picture.

Desalination of seawater: a false solution - a real ecological disaster

With desalination, we enter a non-virtuous circle of resistance, which amplifies climate change”, says Christophe Mori, hydrobiologist and lecturer at the University of Corsica. “Desalination should be the last thing to do”

Several French municipalities have recently turned to seawater desalination to address?drought?conditions. However, it is crucial to recognize the harmful ecological repercussions associated with this process. Some key concerns include:

• Substantial energy consumption: Desalination operations require significant amounts of energy. Although various desalination processes exist, a considerable number of existing desalination plants still rely on fossil fuels.
• Air pollution: The reliance on fossil fuels in desalination plants leads to the release of carbon emissions, contributing to air pollution and exacerbating environmental issues.
• Water pollution: The discharge of brackish water into the ocean on a daily basis poses a threat to water quality. This discharged water is a concentrate of warmer, saltier seawater and contains a variety of chemicals such as anti-scaling, anti-chlorine, antifoam agents, and more. This discharge can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Thank you Hortense Chauvin and?Reporterre?for highlighting challenges related to water desalination.

Read more?- Available in:

Amharic - Arabic - French?-?Persian - Spanish

WASHing fisheries

Many fishery value chains, whether they rely on wild catch or aquaculture, face substantial water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges. They often lack hygiene infrastructure and water quality management.

This can impact fishery and aquaculture operations and cause diseases among fish, increased mortality rates and reduced productivity. It can also affect the health of factory workers and consumers.

By investing in sanitation facilities, waste management, and hygiene infrastructure, we can achieve not just SDG 6 in fisheries but many related SDGs including:

• SDG 1 – No poverty: Fisheries and aquaculture provide employment to approximately 58.5 million people around the globe.
• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: seafood can make up half or more of the total protein intake in some countries, e.g., Bangladesh, Sierra Leone.
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing: Access to clean water for drinking, handwashing, and food processing can prevent waterborne diseases and infections, protecting workers’ and customers’ health.
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Many women work in processing fish, yet improved sanitation facilities at work remain notoriously scarce.?
• SDG 14 – Life under Water: Proper waste management can prevent pollution of water bodies and reduce the impact of harmful substances on aquatic life.

This article is based on the World Bank initiative Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Fisheries and Aquaculture. Thank you?Gauravjeet Singh?for highlighting the importance of Investing in sanitation, waste management, and hygiene.

Read more?- Available in:

Burmese - French - Italian -?Persian?-?Spanish

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Urban Stream Restoration

Restored stream ecosystems provide a variety of direct and indirect environmental benefits, such as improved storm water management, water quality, and recreational value.

The District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DC DOEE) and National Park Service (NPS) have evaluated the trade-offs and long-term gains provided by restoration projects and distilled few lessons learned:

• Do it! Urban stream restoration projects have proven to be cost-effective and beneficial. They not only help improve local water quality but also provide communities with increased access to greenspaces and recreational opportunities.
• Maximize benefits! Stream restoration efforts should prioritize streams with high nutrient pollution and stormwater runoff. By focusing on these areas, we can effectively tackle the root causes of water contamination and enhance the ecological health of our streams.
• Work with the community! It's crucial to involve and consider the needs and desires of the local community in future stream restorations. By actively engaging residents, we can ensure that restoration efforts align with their aspirations, creating a sense of ownership and fostering sustainable, long-term benefits.

Thank you?Lorenzo Cinalli?and?Ashley Webb?and?Tova Crystal?for your work on this policy brief.

Read more?- Available in:

Amharic - Arabic - Burmese - Chinese - French?-?Hindi?-?Italian - Persian - Sinhala - Spanish

Protect water from pesticides by focusing on how people use knowledge

Though necessary and widely used in agriculture, pesticides cause a multitude of problems in the environment. To reduce pesticide risks, it is necessary to adapt communication of scientific knowledge for truth-seekers, sense-makers, and utility-maximisers.?

Thank you?Eawag?for another informative article and its authors?Benjamin Hofmann?&?Karin Ingold.

Read more?- Available in:

Burmese - French - German - Hindi?- Italian - Kurdish - Persian -?Spanish

Harnessing scuba diving ecotourism for marine conservation and the blue economy

In Mexico, the diving industry generates revenues comparable to the fishing industry. Furthermore, it benefits ancillary sectors such as accommodation, transportation, and local businesses. And most importantly it is non-extractive! Unlike traditional extractive industries like fishing, scuba diving ecotourism promotes sustainable practices, ensuring the long-term viability of dive sites for future generations.

A refreshing approach to conserving our oceans which are pivotal to mitigating?climate change,?pollution, and coastal resilience.?Learn more about the Atlas Aquatica Initiative and its aim of evaluating the global economic value of the diving industry as a leader in a sustainable blue economy.

Thank you?Fabio Favoretto?for this article.

Read more?- Available in:

Amharic?- Chinese - French?- German -?Hindi?-?Spanish

REACH Story of change: Participatory water resource management in Ethiopia - key findings & emerging impacts

In the quest to enhance and maintain progress towards?Water Security?for everyone, various strategies are being carefully considered.

A para-hydrology initiative in two Ethiopian regions trained citizen scientists to collect quantitative data on rural hydrological systems to successfully predict and assess the impact of sustainable land management interventions.

This article was originally published by REACH, a global research programme led by?University of Oxford?to improve water security for the poor by delivering world-class science that transforms policy and practice.

Thank you?Alemseged Tamiru Haile,?David W Walker?and?REACH | Water Security.

Join leaders of the industry and academia in shaping water security in Oxford for the grand finale?REACH | Water Security's closing conference from 20th to 22nd September 2023. Click here for more details and registration.

Read more?- Available in:

Amharic -?Burmese?-?French?-?Kurdish - Spanish

Caring for rivers is protecting the ocean

Passionate about conserving rivers and the ocean at once? Join us at?SIWI - Stockholm International Water Institute?to tackle the critical issues of source-to-sea management, e.g. dealing with based pollution impacting our oceans.

Pollution from rivers poses a significant threat, with 80% of ocean plastics entering through these waterways. Too many rivers are conduits for waste, chemicals, and debris, severely impacting coastal and marine ecosystems.

Arid areas face additional challenges as dry soil and infrequent rain lead to increased build-up and runoff of accumulated pollutants. Coastal communities in these regions, reliant on fisheries and tourism, are particularly vulnerable.

With projections of major rivers running dry, urgent action is needed. At World Water Week we'll share voices from the field about how to make source-to-sea management the new normal to ensure a sustainable future for our rivers and our oceans.

Save the date: 20th of August, 16:00-17:30 (CEST)

Read more?- Available in:

Amharic -?Burmese?-?French?- German - Hindi - Persian - Spanish - Turkish

More from our team...

Meet our Editor / Fundraising Assistant

Wietske Howell?began her work at?Water Science Policy?as a volunteer editor, showcasing her exceptional skills as part of projects for the?Water Integrity Network (WIN)?and polishing the groundwater photostories for?UNESCO's exhibition in Paris.

With her dedication and talent, she has recently taken on the role of Fundraising Assistant, making valuable contributions to our team.

Congratulations, Wietske, on your well-deserved growth within the organization. We appreciate your commitment and the positive impact you continue to make!

See her work here

Water Science Policy needs you

We are looking to further strengthen our existing?Chinese,?German,?Portuguese, and?Russian?translation efforts. If you want to join a young and global team and are motivated to contribute to an organisation that is still at its earliest stages, this might be for you.

Are you a professional translator, a student or a water professional with (near) native fluency in Chinese, German, Portuguese, or Russian? Are you willing to contribute 2-4h per week to making water stories accessible to a truly global audience? Want to put your country on the map? Want to learn about the latest science, successes, and investigations while building bridges across language barriers?

Send us a message!

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