Abstract: Abnormally high uranium (U) prevalence in groundwater is a neoteric subject of concern throughout the world because of its direct impact on human health and well-being. Groundwater is used as the most preferred choice for drinking because of its good quality and ease of availability in rural and urban parts of India, and also in different parts of the world. India is an agriculture-dominant country and its 50–80% irrigational requirement is met by groundwater, besides this nearly 90% of rural and 50% of urban water needs are fulfilled by groundwater. The uranium concentration in groundwater in different parts of India namely Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, etc. found to be varying from 0 mg/L to 1443 mg/L, and in different parts of the world, it is found up to 1400 mg/L in the countries like United States, Canada, Finland, Mongolia, Nigeria, South Korea, Pakistan, Burundi, China, Afghanistan, etc. Various natural factors such as geology, hydro-geochemistry, and prevailing conditions as well as anthropogenic factors including mining, nuclear activities, erratic use of fertilizers, and overexploitation of groundwater resources are responsible for adding uranium in groundwater. Groundwater is considered a primary source of uranium ingestion in human beings as it contributes 85% while food contributes 15%. Uranium affects living beings as a two-way sword, being a radioactive element, causing radiotoxicity, and on the other hand as a heavy metal, it causes chemotoxicity. The main target organs affected by the consumption of uranium-contaminated water are kidneys, bones, lungs, etc. It can cause renal failure, impair cell functioning and bone growth, and mutation in DNA. Although, its toxic effects, being a heavy metal, are more severe than its radiotoxicity. Various techniques are available for the efficient removal of uranium from the groundwater such as bioremediation, nanotechnology-enhanced remediation, adsorption, filtration, etc. This chapter entails a comprehensive investigation of uranium contamination in groundwater of rural and urban parts of India their probable sources, health impacts, treatment, and mitigation techniques available to manage groundwater resources.

Abstract: VNIR-SWIR (400–2500 nm) reflectance measurements were made on the surfaces of various cores, cuttings and sample splits of sedimentary rocks from the Tertiary Jackson Group, and Catahoula, Oakville and Goliad Formations. These rocks vary in composition and texture from mudstone and claystone to sandstone and are known host rocks for roll front uranium occurrences in Karnes and Live Oak Counties, Texas. Spectral reflectance profiles, 569 in total, were reduced to 125 representative spectral signatures, which were analyzed using the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Material Identification and Characterization Algorithm (MICA). MICA uses an automated continuum-removal procedure together with a least-squares linear regression to determine the fit of observed sample spectral absorption features to those of reference mineral standards in a spectral library. The reference minerals include various clay, mica, carbonate, ferric and ferrous iron minerals and their mixtures. In addition, absorption feature band-depth analysis was done to identify rock surfaces exhibiting absorption features related to uranium and zeolite minerals, which were not included in the command files used to execute MICA. Rocks from each of the four geologic units produced broadly similar spectral signatures as a result of comparable mineral compositions, but there were some notable differences. For example, Ca- and Na-montmorillonite was matched most frequently to the spectral absorption features in 2-μm (∼2000–2500 nm) wavelengths, while goethite occurred often at 1-μm (∼400–1000 nm) wavelengths. The latter is related to limonitic iron-staining in and around oxidized zones of the uranium roll front as described in previous papers. Rocks of the Jackson Group differed from those of the Catahoula, Oakville and Goliad units in that the former exhibited spectral features we interpret as being due to the presence of lignite-bearing mudstone layers. Goliad rocks exhibit spectral features related to dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, and an unidentified green clay mineral that is possibly glauconite. Jackson Group rocks also exhibit weak but well-resolved absorption features at 964 and 1157 nm related to either or both zeolite minerals clinoptilolite and heulandite. These zeolite minerals and a few spectra exhibiting hydrous silica absorption features are indicative of alteration of volcanic glass in tuffaceous mudstone and claystone layers. A few sample spectra exhibited strong absorption features at around 1135 nm related to the uranium mineral coffinite. Both the 1135 nm coffinite and 1157 nm zeolite absorption features overlap somewhat, potentially making them difficult to distinguish without additional hyperspectral field, laboratory or remote sensing data. The results of this study were compared to mixtures of minerals described for ore, gangue and alteration minerals in deposit models for sandstone-hosted uranium, sedimentary bentonite and sedimentary zeolite. Use of these spectra can help facilitate mapping of both waste materials from the legacy mining of the above commodities, as well as future exploration and resource assessment activities.

Abstract: Leaky dams are an increasingly popular natural flood management measure, yet their impacts on flood peak magnitude have not yet been empirically quantified for a range of event types and magnitudes, even at the stream scale. In this study, the novel application of a transfer function noise modelling approach to empirical Before-After-Control-Impact stage data from an upland catchment allowed leaky dam effectiveness in reducing flood peak magnitude to be quantified. Flood peak stage and discharge magnitude changes were assessed from empirical data for 50 single and multi-peaked high flow events with return periods ranging from less than one year to six years. Overall, event peak magnitude was significantly reduced following the installation of eight leaky dams on the impact stream. Effectiveness was highly variable, but on average, flood peak magnitude was reduced by 10% for events with a return period up to one year. Some of the variability was explained by the size of the event and whether it was a single or multi-peaked event. This finding emphasises the need to manage expectations by considering both a range of event magnitudes and types when designing or assessing leaky dam natural flood management schemes.

Abstract: In urban environments there is a severe reduction of infiltration and groundwater recharge due to the existence of large impervious areas. During rain events, large volumes of water that could have recharged groundwater and surface water bodies are diverted into the municipal drainage system and lost from the freshwater storage. Moreover, extreme rain events impose high peak flows and large runoff volumes, which increase the risk of urban floods. Recent studies have suggested the use of rainwater harvesting for groundwater recharge, as a plausible solution for these challenges in dense urban environments. While the benefits of this approach are well understood, research on its practical, engineering, and hydrological aspects is relatively limited. The objective of the present study was to examine the use of infiltration wells for groundwater recharge with harvested rainwater collected from building rooftops under Mediterranean climate conditions. Two types of wells with similar hydraulic and technical properties were examined: a well that reaches the groundwater (wet well); and a well that discharges the harvested water into the unsaturated zone (dry well). Infiltration capacities of the wells were compared in controlled experiments conducted during summer months, and in operational recharge of harvested rainwater, during winter. Both dry and wet wells were found to be suitable for purposes of groundwater recharge with rooftop-harvested rainwater. Infiltration capacity of the wet well was about seven times greater than the infiltration capacity of the dry well. While the infiltration capacity of the wet well was constant throughout the entire length of the study (∼10 m3/h/m), the dry well infiltration capacity improved during winter (from 0.5 m3/h/m to 1.5 m3/h/m), a result of development of the dry well with time. Considering Tel-Aviv, Israel, as a case study for a dense modern city in a Mediterranean climate, it is demonstrated herein that the use of infiltration wells may reduce urban drainage by ∼40 %.

Abstract: Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as effective environmental-management measures to address societal challenges such as climate change, water and food security, and disaster risk reduction, thus contributing to human well-being and protecting biodiversity. In addition to being particularly susceptible to these challenges, mountain areas are prone to multihazard conditions, due to their steep topography and particular climatic conditions. NbS can contribute greatly to the sustainable development of mountain ecosystems. This chapter presents examples of NbS in mountain areas around the globe that demonstrate how this approach contributes to achieving sustainable development.