research Water Security is about sustaining a balance between water availability and demand. It involves protection against the extremes of floods and droughts by reducing the associated hazards, promoting the wise use of water resources, and expanding access to safe and reliable water services. The EC-sponsored research project entitled âIncreasing Water Management and Productivity in the Tiham, Republic of Yemenâ analysed the technical structure and institutional setting of the 20,000-hectare Wadi Mawr spate irrigation system. A strategy was developed for establishing Water Users Associations (WUAs). Ten pioneer WUAs were established, and local staff continued with the establishment of 15 more WUAs based on the experience gained from the pilots. water security In 2009, preparations for the implementation of the PRoACC postdoctoral research programme commenced. This project focuses specifically on the challenges posed on the water sector by climate change, and concentrates on the Mekong River basin area. Seven post-docs were selected and will start their research in April 2010 for a period of 18 months. This project entails multidisciplinary cooperation with many educational and institutional partners in the Mekong countries. The EXACT project âSmall-scale Water Treatment and Artificial Rechargeâ, which had a total budget of ⬠2.3 million and was funded by DGIS, was concluded in 2009. The principal partners within the project were the Ministry of Water and Irrigation of Jordan, the Palestinian Water Authority and the Israeli Water Authority. In the water treatment portion of the project, the following was achieved: a demonstration-scale pilot plant for iron removal from groundwater at Baqa (Jordan) is in operation, a demonstration-scale pilot plant for chromium removal in Holon (Israel) is also in use, and the rehabilitation of a slow sand filter at the Aqbat Jabar water treatment plant (Palestine) was completed. Concerning artificial recharge, the following was achieved. In Jordan, four artificial recharge dams were completed and monitoring started. In Palestine, tender documents for the construction of an artificial recharge dam were prepared; the offers from four contractors will be evaluated in April 2010. Development continues on the XBeach open source modelling system for predicting storm impacts in complex situations, including dune erosion, flooding, and breaching of barrier islands. The system was tested extensively, and is now accepted as an advanced tool for predicting storm impacts on coastal zones. The US Geological Survey and Deltares are involved in the further development of the system. Because of its open nature, it is readily used in research projects, such as MICORE, a large EU project that develops probabilistic mapping of the morphological impact of marine storms, and produces early warning and information systems to support longterm disaster reduction, but also in assessing coastal hazards in Australia, including coral reef environments. Urbanisation is concerned with the enormous political and social pressures placed on local governments to expand services and infrastructure related to water supply, treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, storm drainage and solid waste, while minimising the impact on the environment. urbanisation The research project âLow Cost Drinking Water Treatmentâ studies indigenous materials for surface and groundwater treatment, and includes one PhD study and a total of eight MSc studies. Partners in the project include Makerere University (Uganda) and KNUST (Ghana). A partner workshop was conducted at the Institute to discuss the progress of the project and come up with future project proposals. In 2009, the PhD study on fluoride removal commenced, and two MSc studies were completed - one on fluoride removal, and one on sand filtration. 14
research The âAlexandria Lake Maryut Integrated Management projectâ was concluded in 2009. UNESCOIHE provided support in the development of mathematical models of the hydrodynamic and ecosystem dynamics in the lake, aimed at promoting a sounder and more sustainable development pattern in the coastal zone of Alexandria. During a final meeting in Alexandria, results were shared and the models were handed over to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, where they will be installed for central use in the newly established management and monitoring unit. Slums have a large impact on eutrophication of freshwater resources, with enormous economical consequences. The SCUSA project aims to develop socially, environmentally and financially sustainable sanitation systems for urban slums in Sub-Saharan Africa. Partners involved are Makerere University and the Kampala City Council, both in Uganda. In 2009, three PhD students finalised their PhD proposals, and presented them at the WaterNet conference in Uganda. UNESCO-IHE hosted a seminar in which all partners discussed the SCUSA project. Several articles were published in peer-reviewed journals. Two smaller UPaRF funds were granted to the partners, allowing for the involvement of KNUST in Ghana and the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and adding to the research funds. The researchers from the participating institutes will collaborate on the development of sustainable sanitation systems, and share results within the region. The EC FP6 project SWITCH, on sustainable urban water management in the city of the future, focused on integration and dissemination with research, demonstrations and training activities in 13 global cities. The 4th Scientific Meeting and Global CityWater Futures Summit was held at the Institute in October. Scientists shared their findings with practitioners in the water sector, and identified future research needs. PhD work was ongoing in 2009, including nine PhD fellows at UNESCO-IHE, and about 40 in the consortium as a whole. The PhD research was supported by 12 MSc participants at UNESCO-IHE. Four did their research in SWITCH demonstration cities. SWITCH-in-Asia, a UNESCO initiative to set up a network of cities in the Asian region based on the concept of SWITCH, was launched with a workshop in Jakarta in December. Other noteworthy activities in 2009 included special sessions at the Singapore International Water Week and at the 5th World Water Forum held in Istanbul, and presentations at the Stockholm Water Week and the ICLEI World Congress in Canada. The five-year project on integrated urban water management has a ⬠24 million budget to build capacity of local governments through the learning alliance approach in various locations in the world. In total, 32 partners are involved in the research and demonstration activities. The SALINE project that started in 2009 investigates the potential of use of seawater and brackish water for sanitation. This could decrease the cityâs demand for freshwater by 30% or more. Within this project, the pioneer in innovative demonstration of large-scale use of seawater in urban sanitation is Hong Kong. The city reveals the enormous potential of seawater as a source for toilet flushing and other non-potable uses in freshwater-poor urban coastal areas. As many large cities are located at the coast or in areas rich with brackish groundwater, use of saline water in sanitation may be one of the feasible options to reduce the stress on freshwater resources. In September, the Natsys project started. This project deals with natural systems for wastewater treatment and reuse and focuses on technology adaptation and implementation in developing countries. Three PhD fellows were identified, and the construction of pilot plants at Birzeit University (Palestine) and UniValle (Colombia) was completed. The three PhD fellows and 12 MSc students will run experiments at these pilot plants. 15