We assessed impacts on water use achieved by implementation of controlled experiments relating to four
water conservation strategies in four towns within the Ipswich watershed in Massachusetts.
Objectives:
- Develop an integrated agricultural and urban modeling system
- Characterize decadal and regional impacts associated with agriculture/urban expansion for selected regions in the continental US
- Examine socio-economic impacts associated with agri-urban development including urban farms/community gardens
- Educate next generation of interdisciplinary scientists
Objectives
- Develop an integrated agricultural and urban modeling system
Characterize decadal and regional impacts associated with agriculture/urban expansion for selected regions in the continental US
- Examine socio-economic impacts associated with agri-urban development including urban farms/community gardens
- Educate next generation of interdisciplinary scientists
Objectives
- Compare effects of climate and land use on fluxes within the same climate zone and among the mesic and semi-arid regions
- Combine multi-scale observations (satellite, flux sites, inventories, tall towers) in neural networks to determine how current climate, land-use and land cover influence processes
- Modify CLM to reduce uncertainties in simulated effects of land use and land cover on biogeochemical and biophysical processes (crops, poplar)
- Investigate future climate variability, and effects of changes in land use and land cover on terrestrial processes
Objectives
- Assess types and densities of NA bacteria in diverse manures and manured soils
- Identify physico-chemical conditions that favor NA activity in soil and reduce N2O emissions
- Evaluate the impact of climate adaptive management practices (C addition, low disturbance) on GHG tradeoffs
Objectives:
- Develop an integrated agricultural and urban modeling system
- Characterize decadal and regional impacts associated with agriculture/urban expansion for selected regions in the continental US
- Examine socio-economic impacts associated with agri-urban development including urban farms/community gardens
- Educate next generation of interdisciplinary scientists
Objectives
- Develop an integrated agricultural and urban modeling system
Characterize decadal and regional impacts associated with agriculture/urban expansion for selected regions in the continental US
- Examine socio-economic impacts associated with agri-urban development including urban farms/community gardens
- Educate next generation of interdisciplinary scientists
Objectives
- Compare effects of climate and land use on fluxes within the same climate zone and among the mesic and semi-arid regions
- Combine multi-scale observations (satellite, flux sites, inventories, tall towers) in neural networks to determine how current climate, land-use and land cover influence processes
- Modify CLM to reduce uncertainties in simulated effects of land use and land cover on biogeochemical and biophysical processes (crops, poplar)
- Investigate future climate variability, and effects of changes in land use and land cover on terrestrial processes
Objectives
- Assess types and densities of NA bacteria in diverse manures and manured soils
- Identify physico-chemical conditions that favor NA activity in soil and reduce N2O emissions
- Evaluate the impact of climate adaptive management practices (C addition, low disturbance) on GHG tradeoffs
Page 1 of 22 Water Utility Efficiency Assessment Using a .docxMARRY7
Page 1 of 22
Water Utility Efficiency Assessment Using a Data Envelopment Analysis
Procedure
Abstract
This paper employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) of US EPA Community Water
System Survey data to compare the relative efficiencies of potable water utilities. Three
ownership types (private for-profit, private not-for-profit, and public) and two types of supply
sources (ground and surface) are compared. Statistically significant results indicating the
efficiency advantage of certain utility types were found, and clear trends towards certain utility
types were identified. The findings indicate that public utilities are most efficient overall,
followed by private not-for-profit utilities, with private for-profit utilities being least efficient.
Except for a few cases of very large supply demands, utilities employing ground water sources
were generally more efficient than those using surface water sources. A brief investigation into
the marginal return on information obtained from using additional measurement variables to
measure utility performance is presented. Additional ranking information can be obtained by
using more discrete measurement variables, but with diminishing marginal returns. This
efficiency evaluation of public water utilities should prove useful as a tool for guiding ownership
policy and water source development.
1 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of
Michigan, 1208A ERB, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2099.
2 P.E., Gordon M. Fair and Earnest Boyce Distinguished University Professor, Department of Chemical
Engineering, University of Michigan, 4103 ERB, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2099.
Michigan Corpus of Upper-level Student Papers. Version 1.0 Ann Arbor, MI. Copyright (c) 2009 Regents of the University of Michigan
MICUSP Version 1.0 - IOE.G3.01.1 - Industrial & Operations Engineering - Third year Graduate - Male - Native Speaker - Research Paper 1
Page 2 of 22
CE Database subject headings: data envelopment analysis, groundwater sources,
surface water sources, efficiency measurements, infrastructure, decision making,
ownership type.
Introduction
Efficiency measurements are widely used in various industries to benchmark
performance, document operational improvements, and provide other managerial information
(e.g.,, Arogyaswamy and Yasai-Ardekani 1997; Westphal et al. 1997). Conversely, water utilities
exist in relatively non-competitive environments, with few quantifiable operational
measurements being available to compel management efficiency. This paper describes a
procedure by which the efficiency of water utilities can be assessed using data envelopment
analysis (DEA), a procedure widely used to provide objective numerical efficiency rankings for
comparable units.
Background
Data envelopment analysis was first described in a landmark paper by Charnes ...
Planning for water sensitive communities: the need for a bottom up systems ap...Michael Barry
This paper was prepared by myself and Dr Peter Coombes of Urban Water Cycle Solutions and accepted under peer review for inclusion in the WSUD 2018 conference in Perth, February 2018. It describes how the use of top down average potable water demands in network analyses can generate unreliable predictions of water security and water distribution patterns. In contrast, the use of highly resolved bottom up analysis is shown to produce robust outcomes that can reliably inform the future management of our water resources.
A presentation given at the WLE Ganges Focal Region writeshop in 2014 on the Ecosystem Services and Resilience Framework (ESR). Put together and presented by Sarah Jones of Bioversity International.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GREEN WASHING IS!.pdfJulietMogola
Many companies today use green washing to lure the public into thinking they are conserving the environment but in real sense they are doing more harm. There have been such several cases from very big companies here in Kenya and also globally. This ranges from various sectors from manufacturing and goes to consumer products. Educating people on greenwashing will enable people to make better choices based on their analysis and not on what they see on marketing sites.
Willie Nelson Net Worth: A Journey Through Music, Movies, and Business Venturesgreendigital
Willie Nelson is a name that resonates within the world of music and entertainment. Known for his unique voice, and masterful guitar skills. and an extraordinary career spanning several decades. Nelson has become a legend in the country music scene. But, his influence extends far beyond the realm of music. with ventures in acting, writing, activism, and business. This comprehensive article delves into Willie Nelson net worth. exploring the various facets of his career that have contributed to his large fortune.
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Introduction
Willie Nelson net worth is a testament to his enduring influence and success in many fields. Born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. Nelson's journey from a humble beginning to becoming one of the most iconic figures in American music is nothing short of inspirational. His net worth, which estimated to be around $25 million as of 2024. reflects a career that is as diverse as it is prolific.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Humble Origins
Willie Hugh Nelson was born during the Great Depression. a time of significant economic hardship in the United States. Raised by his grandparents. Nelson found solace and inspiration in music from an early age. His grandmother taught him to play the guitar. setting the stage for what would become an illustrious career.
First Steps in Music
Nelson's initial foray into the music industry was fraught with challenges. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue his dreams, but success did not come . Working as a songwriter, Nelson penned hits for other artists. which helped him gain a foothold in the competitive music scene. His songwriting skills contributed to his early earnings. laying the foundation for his net worth.
Rise to Stardom
Breakthrough Albums
The 1970s marked a turning point in Willie Nelson's career. His albums "Shotgun Willie" (1973), "Red Headed Stranger" (1975). and "Stardust" (1978) received critical acclaim and commercial success. These albums not only solidified his position in the country music genre. but also introduced his music to a broader audience. The success of these albums played a crucial role in boosting Willie Nelson net worth.
Iconic Songs
Willie Nelson net worth is also attributed to his extensive catalog of hit songs. Tracks like "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," "On the Road Again," and "Always on My Mind" have become timeless classics. These songs have not only earned Nelson large royalties but have also ensured his continued relevance in the music industry.
Acting and Film Career
Hollywood Ventures
In addition to his music career, Willie Nelson has also made a mark in Hollywood. His distinctive personality and on-screen presence have landed him roles in several films and television shows. Notable appearances include roles in "The Electric Horseman" (1979), "Honeysuckle Rose" (1980), and "Barbarosa" (1982). These acting gigs have added a significant amount to Willie Nelson net worth.
Television Appearances
Nelson's char
Artificial Reefs by Kuddle Life Foundation - May 2024punit537210
Situated in Pondicherry, India, Kuddle Life Foundation is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the living standards of coastal communities and simultaneously placing a strong emphasis on the protection of marine ecosystems.
One of the key areas we work in is Artificial Reefs. This presentation captures our journey so far and our learnings. We hope you get as excited about marine conservation and artificial reefs as we are.
Please visit our website: https://kuddlelife.org
Our Instagram channel:
@kuddlelifefoundation
Our Linkedin Page:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kuddlelifefoundation/
and write to us if you have any questions:
info@kuddlelife.org
Natural farming @ Dr. Siddhartha S. Jena.pptxsidjena70
A brief about organic farming/ Natural farming/ Zero budget natural farming/ Subash Palekar Natural farming which keeps us and environment safe and healthy. Next gen Agricultural practices of chemical free farming.
The impacts of water conservation strategies on water
1. THE IMPACTS OF WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
ON WATER USE: FOUR CASE STUDIES1
ABSTRACT: We assessed impacts on water use achieved by implementation of controlled experiments relating to four
water conservation strategies in four towns within the Ipswich watershed in Massachusetts. The strate gies included (1)
installation of weather-sensitive irrigation controller switches (WSICS) in residences and muni cipal athletic fields; (2)
installation of rainwater harvesting systems in residences; (3) two outreach programs: (a) free home indoor water use
audits and water fixture retrofit kits and (b) rebates for low-water-demand toilets and washing machines; and (4) soil
amendments to improve soil moisture retention at a municipal athletic field. The goals of this study are to summarize
the effectiveness of the four water conservation strategies and to intro duce nonparametric statistical methods for
evaluating the effectiveness of these conservation strategies in reduc ing water use. It was found that (1) the municipal
WSICS significantly reduced water use; (2) residences with high irrigation demand were more likely than low water
users to experience a substantial demand decrease when equipped with the WSICS; (3) rainwater harvesting provided
substantial rainwater use, but these volumes were small relative to total domestic water use and relative to the natural
fluctuations in domestic water use; (4) both the audits ⁄ retrofit and rebate programs resulted in significant water
savings; and (5) a modeling approach showed potential water savings from soil amendments in ball fields.
(KEY TERMS: water conservation; water demand management; water resource planning; nonparametric statistics;
controlled experiments.)
INTRODUCTION
The Ipswich watershed, situated north of metropol itan
Boston, MA, has experienced unnaturally low or no flows
during some summer months in recent years owing in
part, to increases in public water supplies (Canfield et al.,
1999; Zarriello and Ries, 2000). The
ongoing streamflow depletion has raised awareness of
the importance of water demand management among
the water authorities, and as a result, the Massachu setts
Department of Conservation and Recreation (MDCR)
launched a project, funded by the U.S. Envi ronmental
Protection Agency (USEPA), in an attempt to identify and
pilot strategies that could help restore instream flows to
the Ipswich River. In coordination
with four communities in the Ipswich watershed, four
water conservation projects were designed to
simultaneously meet immediate municipal needs and
demonstrate innovative water conservation strategies
that could be evaluated with real-world data. The four
projects are (1) installation of weather-sensitive irrigation
controller switches (WSICS) at residences and at
municipal athletic fields, (2) installation of rainwater
harvesting systems at residences, (3) town administered
programs to provide (a) home indoor water use audits
and fixture retrofit kits and (b) rebates for
low-water-demand toilets and washing machines, and (4)
soil amendments to improve mois ture retention and
reduce water demand at a munici pal athletic field.
The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the
effectiveness of four water conservation pilot strate gies
on water use. As is inherent to many small-scale pilots,
the datasets for these demonstration projects tend to be
small, variable, and exhibit nonnormal dis tributions. A
secondary goal of this study is to demon strate the
application of mostly nonparametric statistical methods
for their ability to enable sensible inferences to be drawn,
in some cases, even from the very small samples.
Vickers (2001) has reviewed approaches relating to
water conservation strategies for municipal, indus trial,
and residential uses. Hilaire et al. (2008) have
summarized factors impacting the efficiency of water use
in the urban landscape: water conservation strate gies,
landscape design, economic and noneconomic
incentives, irrigation⁄water application and reuse
2. technologies, and people-plants relationship. Most pre
vious research on water conservation strategies involves
price incentives. Literature on the price elas ticity of
water use – impact of water price on water demand – is
so well developed that meta-analysis is now possible
(e.g., see the meta-analysis of 64 previous studies by
Dalhuisen et al., 2003). A review of research relating to
nonprice water conservation strategies, in which price
incentives are not used, reveals fewer studies. We note
three general approaches to non price water
conservation research: (1) behavioral approaches, (2)
retrospective analyses, and (3) con trolled experiments.
Examples of the first approach are provided by
Corral-Verdugo and Frias-Armenta (2006) and others
who have evaluated the impact of social norms (an
understanding of the attitudes and behavior of others) on
water conservation behavior. Similarly, Atwood et al.
(2007) and others have identi fied the key behavioral,
community, and other socioeconomic factors that impact
water conservation, such as gender, environmental
attitudes, and neigh borhood features. Gilg and Barr
(2006) have provided a review of research that
summarizes behavioral atti tudes toward water
conservation. Most previous
behavioral research on water conservation consists of
controlled experimental designs based on a combina tion
of surveys and multivariate statistical analyses.
A second approach to nonprice water conservation
research involves a retrospective analysis of previous
water use behavior using available data. For exam ple,
Kenney et al. (2004) showed the importance of
water-use restrictions in reducing water demands during
a drought experienced by eight Colorado cit ies. Most
retrospective research on nonprice water conservation
strategies has developed multivariate relationships for
predicting residential water demand as a function of
conservation efforts in addition to numerous other factors
or explanatory variables. For example, some of the
combinations of explanatory variables considered for
predicting water demand, in addition to conservation
efforts, include price, house hold appliances, landscape
features, metering, and climate (Bamezai, 1995); price,
weather, and demo graphic characteristics (Kenney et
al., 2008); price and public information (Wang et al.,
1999; Smith and Wang, 2008); price, weather, household
income, municipalities, public information, and education
(Michelsen et al., 1999); price, public information,
weather, household characteristics, water use restric
tion, and ration (Renwick and Green, 2000); or price,
public information, weather, household characteris tics,
use restriction, ration, and month (Renwick and
Archibald, 1998). For those cited studies, the demand
elasticity in response to conservation efforts ranged from
0.03 to )4.51 for indoor strategies and 0 (unresponsive)
to )4.81 for outdoor strategies.
On the other hand, the price elasticity of water
demand reported in previous research on price
approaches to water conservation varies. For example,
Espey et al. (1997) found that price elasticity ranged
from )0.02 to )0.75 for 75% of price elasticity esti mates,
whereas Brookshire et al. (2002) found esti mates
ranging from )0.11 to )1.59, and although Dalhuisen et al.
(2003) concluded that price elasticity of water demand is
relatively elastic, the authors cautioned that price
elasticity varied depending on functional form selection,
aggregation level, data char acteristics, and estimation
issues. In conclusion, these studies indicate that the
effectiveness of both nonprice and price approaches
varied drastically, thus we are unable to judge from
previous research whether non price or price approaches
are more effective. Moreover, Dalhuisen et al. (2003) has
concluded that price elas ticity in East United States is
insignificant; therefore, in the context of our analysis, it is
probably safe to view economic incentives to be
relatively ineffective in comparison with other incentives
considered here.
A third approach to nonprice water conservation
research, and the approach used here, involves the use
of controlled experiments combined with
statistical methods. Here controlled experiments are
performed with actual water conservation methods. For
example, Karpiscak et al. (2001) estimated water
savings by monitoring a water conservation demon
stration house. The water savings reported by Karpiscak
et al. (2001), however, may not be an accu rate response
to a single water conservation strategy because the
synergistic effects associated with multi ple water
conservation practices implemented inside the
demonstration house were not considered. Buch berger
and Wells (1996) monitored residential water demand at
four households over a one-year period and used that
information to develop stochastic mod els of residential
water demands. Although their work did not deal directly
with water conservation efforts, such research could
provide important inputs to future water conservation
strategies. Mayer et al. (2003, 2004) and Ayres
Associates (1996) have employed t-tests to assess water
savings due to vari ous water conservation strategies in
an experimental group relative to a control group.
There are a few examples of the type of research
performed here, in which designed experiments are used
to evaluate the effectiveness of water conserva tion
technologies and programs using hypothesis tests
(Ayres Associates, 1996; Mayer et al., 2003, 2004).
Those studies employed traditional parametric statis tical
methods, and the applicability of the t-test used in these
studies was not assessed by an investigation of
probability distributions of the datasets. The researchers
assumed that the data arose from a nor mal distribution
without performing normality checks. Here, we are
careful to confirm the suitability of statistical methods
before their application to con trolled experiments to
assess the effectiveness of each of four independent
water conservation strategies. We begin by providing an
overview of the four conser vation strategies considered
and reviewing the statis tical methods employed.
3. METHODOLOGIES
Design of Water Conservation Strategies
Four water conservation strategies designed to
reduce water use were implemented in the Ipswich River
watershed by MDCR, with funding from the USEPA. Due
to the critical contribution of outdoor irrigation to the
summertime streamflow deficit (Ips wich River
Watershed Action Plan, 2003), these water conservation
strategies piloted and evaluated here have a strong
emphasis on reducing lawn and athletic field irrigation.
The installation of WSICS at
residences and municipal athletic fields, the installa tion
of rainwater harvesting systems, and the intro duction of
moisture-retaining soil amendments at an athletic field
are all strategies designed to mitigate water withdrawals
for irrigation purposes during the summer months. In
addition, the home audit⁄ retrofit and appliance rebate
programs aim to mitigate with drawals for indoor water
use, year round. Each case study was designed in
cooperation with one or more municipality in the
watershed, based on an opportu nistic assessment of
water conservation needs and programmatic resources.
This section, along with Table 1, summarizes the
water savings hypothesis and evaluation design for each
of the four demonstration projects. The WSICS are
designed to only trigger an irrigation cycle when the soil
moisture is low, as estimated from regional weather
conditions and local rainfall. By delivering water
optimally, such technology should reduce over all
irrigation demand by eliminating extraneous cycles
triggered by automatic timers that are insensi tive to
weather conditions. The rainwater harvesting systems
store rainwater, providing a direct alterna tive to the use
of public drinking water for nonpo table outdoor uses. We
thereby anticipated that the systems would reduce
demand on household public water consumption. The
moisture-retaining soil amendments were designed to
extend the time that moisture remains available to the
turf roots within the soil. As a result, we anticipated that
the field could tolerate reductions in irrigation volume
without compromising turf health. The audit⁄ retrofit
program was anticipated to reduce water use in
participating households by leading to the direct repair of
leaks and the replacement of faucets and water fixtures
with more efficient alternatives. The rebate program was
anticipated to similarly reduce household water use by
encouraging the conversion to water-efficient toilets and
washing machines.
A summary of evaluation design for all four water
conservation strategies is documented in Table 1. This
table includes the sample sizes associated with the
control and experimental populations, the time periods
associated with the installation and the pre- and
postexperiment evaluations, the time periods excluded
from the analysis, and a list of the confounding factors.