A Quantitative Approach to the Watershed Governance Prism: The Duero River Basin, Mexico

Advances have been made in water resource investigation due to the implementation of mathematical models, the development of theoretical frameworks, and the evaluation of sustainability indices. Together, they improve and make integrated water resource management more efficient. In this paper, in the study area of the Duero River Basin, located in Michoacan, Mexico, we schematize a series of numerical indices of the Watershed Governance Prism to determine the quantitative status of water governance in a watershed. The results, presented as axes, perspectives, and prisms in the Axis Index, Water Governance Index, and Watershed Governance Prism Index, provide the conclusion that it is possible to establish and evaluate the Watershed Governance Prism Index using our numerical implementation of the Watershed Governance Prism theoretical framework. Thus, it is possible to define a quantitative status and evoke how water governance is being designed and implemented in a watershed

Water and Environmental Resources: A Multi-Criteria Assessment of Management Approaches

The present study applied a multi-criteria analysis to evaluate the best approach among six theoretical frameworks related to the integrated management of water–environmental resources, analyzing the frequency of multiple management criteria. The literature review covers the period from 1990 to 2015, with a notable presence of the theoretical frameworks of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Ecohealth, Ecosystem Approach (EA), Water Framework Directive (WFD), and, to a lesser extent, the Watershed Governance Prism (WGP) and the Sustainability Wheel (SW). The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods applied include AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), and PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations). Twenty-five criteria were analyzed, such as governance, participation, sustainability, decentralization, and health and well-being, among others. We started with five criteria for evaluating the hierarchy of the six theoretical frameworks using the AHP method. Subsequently, we again evaluated the five criteria using the TOPSIS and PROMETHEE methods to calibrate the results with the AHP. Then, using word counting, we evaluated the best approach, applying 10, 15, 20, and 25 more criteria. Our results indicate that the best integrated management alternative was the WFD, which fulfilled 47% of the management criteria. Second, with 45%, was the WGP, and third was IWRM, with 41%; less successful approaches to the criteria were demonstrated by the EA, SW, and Ecohealth methods. By applying this methodology, we demonstrated an excellent structured tool that can aid in the selection of the most important issue within a given sector

Final opportunity to rehabilitate an urban river as a water source for Mexico City.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount and quality of water in the Magdalena-Eslava river system and to propose alternatives for sustainable water use. The system is the last urban river in the vicinity of Mexico City that supplies surface water to the urban area. Historical flow data were analyzed (1973-2010), along with the physicochemical and bacteriological attributes, documenting the evolution of these variables over the course of five years (2008-2012) in both dry and rainy seasons. The analyses show that the flow regime has been significantly altered. The physicochemical variables show significant differences between the natural area, where the river originates, and the urban area, where the river receives untreated wastewater. Nutrient and conductivity concentrations in the river were equivalent to domestic wastewater. Fecal pollution indicators and various pathogens were present in elevated densities, demonstrating a threat to the population living near the river. Estimates of the value of the water lost as a result of mixing clean and contaminated water are presented. This urban river should be rehabilitated as a sustainability practice, and if possible, these efforts should be replicated in other areas. Because of the public health issues and in view of the population exposure where the river flows through the city, the river should be improved aesthetically and should be treated to allow its ecosystem services to recover. This river represents an iconic case for Mexico City because it connects the natural and urban areas in a socio-ecological system that can potentially provide clean water for human consumption. Contaminated water could be treated and reused for irrigation in one of the green areas of the city. Wastewater treatment plants and the operation of the existing purification plants are urgent priorities that could lead to better, more sustainable water use practices in Mexico City

Water flux distribution from 2008–2010 grouped by season.

<p>Water flux distribution from 2008–2010 grouped by season.</p

Spatial trend for the eight main water quality variables in the Magdalena River, based on 19 sampling stations.

<p>Spatial trend for the eight main water quality variables in the Magdalena River, based on 19 sampling stations.</p

The geometric mean, standard deviation in log scale, maximum and minimum of Coliphage, Enterovirus, Adenovirus, <i>Cryptosporidium parvum</i> oocysts and <i>Giardia lamblia</i> cysts in the Magdalena River water from 2008 to 2009.

<p><i>Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia</i> detection limit 1 (oo)cyst/mL <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102081#pone.0102081-TapiaPalacios1" target="_blank">[37]</a>; Adenovirus (AdV) detection limit 10 genome copies <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102081#pone.0102081-Xagoraraki1" target="_blank">[34]</a>; Enterovirus (EV) detection limit 10 genome copies <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102081#pone.0102081-SilvaMagaa1" target="_blank">[74]</a>; FRNA specific bacteriophage detection limit 1 PFU/mL <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102081#pone.0102081-SolanoOrtiz1" target="_blank">[30]</a>, somatic bacteriophage detection limit 1 PFU/mL <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102081#pone.0102081-SolanoOrtiz1" target="_blank">[30]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102081#pone.0102081-Xagoraraki1" target="_blank">[34]</a>.</p

The bacteria identified in the Magdalena River water samples in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

<p>The bacteria identified in the Magdalena River water samples in 2008, 2009 and 2010.</p

The bacteria identified in the Eslava River water samples in 2010.

<p>The bacteria identified in the Eslava River water samples in 2010.</p

Interannual variation of the NFRs, RFRs, mNFRs and mRFRs measured at hydrometric station 26440.

<p>Interannual variation of the NFRs, RFRs, mNFRs and mRFRs measured at hydrometric station 26440.</p

Daily volumetric flow regime (1973–2010) measured at the hydrometric station Santa Teresa (26440).

<p>Daily volumetric flow regime (1973–2010) measured at the hydrometric station Santa Teresa (26440).</p