From pragmatic to politicized? The future of water remunicipalization in the United States

The United States has experienced swings of public and private operation of its water services for more than 150 years. This paper examines the most recent swing, that of remunicipalization. We argue that much of this remunicipalization is taking place for ‘pragmatic’ reasons related to cost savings and service quality, but there are also signs of more ‘politicized’ forms of water remunicipalization taking place, similar to efforts elsewhere in the world where the process has often involved heated ideological debates and mass mobilizations. Combined with a growing politicization of other social, economic, and environmental issues in the US, water remunicipalization could become more politicized in the future, but a fragmented ‘pro-public’ movement, combined with ongoing efforts to outsource water services and growing resistance to remunicipalization from private water companies, may constrain this potential.     

Static probing of soils using the “equilibrated probe”

Experience gained with the probing of soils using an equilibrated-probe mechanism, which makes it possible to measure the soils resistance to penetration of the probe at low rates of displacements comparable to the rate of displacement of a pile and plate during static tests is outlined. Results are presented for field investigations and design characteristics obtained from probing data and derived from plate and pile tests. Basic trends in continued research are noted for expansion of practical application of the method proposed.Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, No. 6, pp. 12–15, November–December, 2004.     

Modeling microbial growth in carpet dust exposed to diurnal variations in relative humidity using the “Time-of-Wetness” framework

Resuspension of microbes in floor dust and subsequent inhalation by human occupants is an important source of human microbial exposure. Microbes in carpet dust grow at elevated levels of relative humidity, but rates of this growth are not well established, especially under changing conditions. The goal of this study was to model fungal growth in carpet dust based on indoor diurnal variations in relative humidity utilizing the time-of-wetness framework. A chamber study was conducted on carpet and dust collected from 19 homes in Ohio, USA and exposed to varying moisture conditions of 50%, 85%, and 100% relative humidity. Fungal growth followed the two activation regime model, while bacterial growth could not be evaluated using the framework. Collection site was a stronger driver of species composition (P = 0.001, R² = 0.461) than moisture conditions (P = 0.001, R² = 0.021). Maximum moisture condition was associated with species composition within some individual sites (P = 0.001-0.02, R² = 0.1-0.33). Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Wallemia were common fungal genera found among samples at elevated moisture conditions. These findings can inform future studies of associations between dampness/mold in homes and health outcomes and allow for prediction of microbial growth in the indoor environment.     

Regional science in the Netherlands: A contextual interpretation of the “power of smallness”

This paper provides an overview of regional science research in the Netherlands since the 1960s. It adopts a contextual thematic approach in identifying and interpreting regional science research topics, practices and methodologies, inspired by Toynbee's challenge and response concept. It argues that place-based, cultural and historical conditions in the Netherlands have prompted a pragmatic and evidence-based scientific approach, in which in particular an innovative quantitative orientation accompanied by a methodological heterogeneity has given Dutch regional science a high international profile. Over the past decades, numerous regional scientists in the country have contributed to this achievement, too many to be mentioned in this overview. This paper has its limitations and offers mainly thematic examples of original—often quantitative—research undertaken by various Dutch regional scientists, that make a difference compared to general approaches in Europe and world-wide. From our concise review we conclude that – despite the small size of the country – the challenge and creative response model of Dutch regional science has been rather successful.     

Physico‐chemical conditions of water in the river Kshipra (India) to determine fish productivity

River Kshipra is a small river supplying water to surrounding areas of the Ujjain district (India) for domestic and industrial use. This very old river has been of a sacred importance and serves for holy dips on certain auspicious festivals like “Kumbha” etc. The main contamination of this sacred river is through the heavily polluted river Khan which joins it in Ujjain. The water quality of the river shows a considerable change throughout the year and indicates the productivity level of aquatic organisms. The data worked out for DO, COD, BOD dissolved CO₂ and trace elements like Ca and Mg indicate an appreciable fall in productivity during the summer months. This directly refers to decrease in fish production in the river and availability of fish seed during the monsoon period. The studies reveal that the decrease in productivity is mainly due to pollutants brought through sewage and industrial discharge from river Khan which mix with river water.     

Implementation of the “sponge city” development plan in China: An evaluation of public willingness to pay for the life-cycle maintenance of its facilities

Urban stream syndrome, including urban waterlogging, flood risk, water shortage, water pollution and ecological restoration, are major challenges that cause potential risks to human beings. Recently, the sponge city construction (SCC) initiative in China has received extensive attention because it aims to systematically solve all of these urban water-related issues for a city. To date, little research has focused on the life-cycle operations, maintenance requirements and low public awareness of sponge city facilities (SCFs; e.g., rain gardens, green roofs, grass swales, and pavement greenbelts), which are challenges facing the development and sustainability of the SCC initiative. The aim of this study is to explore (i) the willingness to pay (WTP) for the life-cycle maintenance of SCFs and its determinants and (ii) the public's perceptions and attitudes towards the SCC initiative. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey combined with contingent valuation in three pilot sponge cities and then applied a two-phase logistic model and Tobit model to estimate the WTP of the respondents and the factors influencing the WTP. The results show that 76% of the respondents agreed to pay for life-cycle maintenance of SCFs, and the median amount of WTP was 16.57 CNY (2.53 USD) per month. Important factors influencing WTP include respondents' perceptions of the efficacy of the SCFs, concerns regarding the waterlogging risk and support for the SCF construction plans. The findings of this research extend our knowledge of the public's perceptions of and attitudes towards the SCC initiative and suggest that public contributions could serve as a crucial and feasible funding source for the life-cycle maintenance of SCFs.     

Testing the ‘Wright Space’: using isovists to analyse prospect-refuge characteristics in Usonian architecture

Historians and critics argue that the innate appeal of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture can be traced to the way in which it balances the properties of outlook, enclosure and mystery. Such properties, it has been theorised, are responsible for the positive emotional response felt by inhabitants of Wright's buildings. Hildebrand explains these psychological responses by proposing the existence of a particular pattern of prospect-refuge characteristics: the ‘Wright Space’. In response to this claim, the present paper uses isovists to analyse the spatial and visual experience of moving through five of Wright's Usonian houses to seek evidence of this pattern. The mathematical properties of these isovists provide measures for comparing the spatio-visual character of different locations. The results of this research show some evidence of the spatial pattern identified by Hildebrand but it is insufficient to class this as either unique to Wright or especially significant.     

Diagnosis of water crises in the metropolitan area of São Paulo: policy opportunities for sustainability

Water resources sustainability is critical to urban areas that are facing increasing water crises. Understanding the interactions in a system perspective is necessary for designing policies for sustaining water systems serving concentrated urban centers. This study uses the dynamics of Cantareira Water Supply System to diagnose the recent water crisis in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, Brazil. We assessed the system data using generalized linear, mixed models. The results show a high seasonal variation between dry and rainy periods. The temperature increased in 2013, while the reservoir volume has been reduced since 2012, as well as the precipitation and spring inflow. The water supply is influenced by spring inflow, precipitation, evaporation and extent of withdrawals. The increase in temperature and the population growth can bring a worse water crisis in the near future. Integrated watershed management is important to improve the water sustainability in cities and need comprehensive strategies for sustainability.     

Changes in water quality of the River Frome (UK) from 1965 to 2009: is phosphorus mitigation finally working?

The water quality of the River Frome, Dorset, southern England, was monitored at weekly intervals from 1965 until 2009. Determinands included phosphorus, nitrogen, silicon, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, pH, alkalinity and temperature. Nitrate-N concentrations increased from an annual average of 2.4 mg l^− 1 in the mid to late 1960s to 6.0 mg l^− 1 in 2008-2009, but the rate of increase was beginning to slow. Annual soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations increased from 101 μg l^− 1 in the mid 1960s to a maximum of 190 μg l^− 1 in 1989. In 2002, there was a step reduction in SRP concentration (average = 88 μg l^− 1 in 2002-2005), with further improvement in 2007-2009 (average = 49 μg l^− 1), due to the introduction of phosphorus stripping at sewage treatment works. Phosphorus and nitrate concentrations showed clear annual cycles, related to the timing of inputs from the catchment, and within-stream bioaccumulation and release. Annual depressions in silicon concentration each spring (due to diatom proliferation) reached a maximum between 1980 and 1991, (the period of maximum SRP concentration) indicating that algal biomass had increased within the river. The timing of these silicon depressions was closely related to temperature. Excess carbon dioxide partial pressures (EpCO₂) of 60 times atmospheric CO₂ were also observed through the winter periods from 1980 to 1992, when phosphorus concentration was greatest, indicating very high respiration rates due to microbial decomposition of this enhanced biomass. Declining phosphorus concentrations since 2002 reduced productivity and algal biomass in the summer, and EpCO₂ through the winter, indicating that sewage treatment improvements had improved riverine ecology. Algal blooms were limited by phosphorus, rather than silicon concentration. The value of long-term water quality data sets is discussed. The data from this monitoring programme are made freely available to the wider science community through the CEH data portal (http://gateway.ceh.ac.uk/).     

Constructional geomaterials: versatile earth resources in the service of humankind—introduction to the thematic set of papers on: challenges to supply and quality of geomaterials used in construction

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - This paper provides general introduction to the subject of constructional geomaterials and to the special issue entitled “Challenges to...     

Evidence of pathogenic microbes in the International Space Station drinking water: reason for concern?

Molecular analyses were carried out on four preflight and six postflight International Space Station (ISS)-associated potable water samples at various stages of purification, storage, and transport, to ascertain their associated microbial diversities and overall microbial burdens. Following DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and molecular cloning procedures, rDNA sequences closely related to pathogenic species of Acidovorax, Afipia, Brevundimonas, Propionibacterium, Serratia, and others were recovered in varying abundance. Retrieval of sequences arising from the iodine (biocide)-reducing Delftia acidovorans in postflight waters is also of concern. Total microbial burdens of ISS potable waters were derived from data generated by an ATP-based enumeration procedure, with results ranging from 0 to 4.9 x 10(4) cells/ml. Regardless of innate biases in sample collection and analysis, such circumstantial evidence for the presence of viable, intact pathogenic cells should not be taken lightly. Implementation of new cultivation approaches and/or viability-based assays are requisite to confirm such an occurrence.     

A Review of “How to House the Homeless”

Gender is both an archetypal and adaptive dimension of the urban condition and, thus, remains a key moving target for planning practitioners and scholars alike. This is especially true of women's growing, if not revolutionary, involvement in the economy. A familiar exception is the trip linking work and home, which has been consistently and persistently shorter for women than men. That said, new reports suggest that the gender gap in commuting time and distance may have quietly vanished in some areas. To explore this possibility, I use panel data from the American Housing Survey to better measure and explain commute trends for the entire United States from 1985 through 2005. They overwhelmingly indicate that differences stubbornly endure, with men's and women's commuting distances converging only slowly and commuting times diverging. My results also show that commuting times are converging for all races, especially for women, and women's trips to work by transit are dwindling rapidly. Thus sex continues to play an important role explaining travel, housing, and labor market dynamics, with major implications for planning practice.     

Sense of place: using people’s experiences in relation to a rural landscape to inform spatial planning guidelines

This paper explores the interplay between people and a distinctive rural locality namely Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site, South Africa to inform spatial planning guidelines. A transdisciplinary, qualitative research methodology was followed. First, participants’ experiences in relation to the rural landscape were obtained using photographs, interviews and focus groups. Experiences related to physical and emotional safety, relaxation and tranquillity, hope and curiosity, and relational experiences with people and a divinity emerged. Drawing on these interactional experiences, participants (divided into multi-disciplinary groups) made visual collages of how to maintain the sense of place. Guidelines developed included two-dimensional site planning guidelines: (i) a sense of arrival; (ii) development zones; (iii) conservation zones; (iv) compatible land uses; (v) a low density, spatially dispersed development pattern and (vi) footpaths. Three-dimensional design guidelines included: (i) unity in style with a diversity of detail designs; (ii) restricted buildings sizes; (iii) building heights of maximum two storeys; (iv) specified building materials and (v) prescribed colour codes. The paper contributes to existing sense of place research by proposing an integrated, contextual and participatory approach as a possible way forward to make the sense(s) of place explicit by integrating these in spatial planning guidelines.     

The Allure of the “Big Society”: Conveying Authority in an Era of Uncertainty

Abstract

The inception and roll out of the UK Government’s Big Society agenda offers an opportunity to consider the changing modalities of contemporary political engagement. Much of the critical scholarship on the Big Society views it as a rationale to legitimize both a reconfiguration of the welfare state and an austerity programme to reduce government debt. While these interpretations are helpful, they explain only partially the appeal of these agendas for politicians and their political parties. The key question explored in this article is why, despite the hostility and cynicism towards ideological projects such as Big Society, do politicians continue to identify and pursue them? I argue that the Big Society agenda is only in part a rationale for austerity and welfare reform; it also provides a discursive setting for politicians to address societal anxieties by offering a navigable route for the future. Although the Big Society agenda has been roundly derided, its Manichean morality tale offers assurance at a time when politics is being reshaped by neoliberal ideology, changing media practices and globalization processes.     

Changing conceptions of “mandala” in tang china: ritual and the role of images

ABSTRACT

“Changing Conceptions of ‘Mandala’ in Tang China: Ritual and the Role of Images” is concerned with the intersection of visionary experience with visual forms. The focus of the study is a Buddhist incantation, or Dhāranī, titled the Revered and Victorious Dhāranī of the Buddha's Usnīsa. This particular dhāranī was widely circulated in China during the Tang dynasty (618–907); for this reason, it may be approached as an important case study for studying the conceptualization of mandalas in China prior to their transmission to Japan in the early ninth century. Through a detailed examination of successive translations and ritual manuals associated with the Revered and Victorious Dhāranī of the Buddha's Usnīsa, different conceptions of mandalas and the roles that were played by images may be observed. This, in turn, responds to larger questions in East Asian Buddhism and studies of Buddhist art regarding the functions of painted mandalas during Buddhist rituals. Lastly, this article seeks to shed light on lesser-known aspects of esoteric Buddhist art in Asia, as the scholarship to date on Buddhist mandalas has primarily focused upon studies of Japanese and Himalayan works.     

Use of green roofs to solve storm water issues at the basin scale – Study in the Hauts-de-Seine County (France)

At the building scale, green roof has demonstrated a positive impact on urban runoff (decrease in the peak discharge and runoff volume). This work aims to study if similar impacts can be observed at a basin scale. It is particularly focused on the possibility to solve some operational issues caused by storm water.

For this purpose, a methodology has been proposed. It combines: a method to estimate the maximum roof area that can be covered by green roof, called green roofing potential, and an urban rainfall-runoff model able to simulate the hydrological behaviour of green roof.

This methodology was applied to two urban catchments, one affected by flooding and the other one by combined sewage overflow. The results show that green roof can reduce the frequency and the magnitude of such problems depending on the covered roof surface. Combined with other infrastructures, they represent an interesting solution for urban water management.     

Fate of β-blocker human pharmaceuticals in surface water: Comparison of measured and simulated concentrations in the Glatt Valley Watershed, Switzerland

This study focused on the occurrence and fate of four β-blockers (atenolol, sotalol, metoprolol, propranolol) in wastewater and surface water. Measured concentrations were compared with predicted concentrations using an implementation of the geo-referenced model GREAT-ER for the Glatt Valley Watershed (Switzerland). Particularly, the question was addressed how measured and simulated data could complement each other for the exposure assessment of human pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants entering surface water through wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).Concentrations in the Glatt River ranged from <LOQ to 83 ng L⁻¹ with the highest concentrations found for atenolol. Higher loads were measured on days with combined sewer overflow events during high flow conditions.GREAT-ER was able to predict spatially resolved river concentrations based on average consumption and excretion data, removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and dissipation and degradation processes in surface water within a factor of 2. These results indicate that modelling might be sufficient to estimate daily average exposure concentrations for compounds that are either recalcitrant or whose degradation and sorption behaviour can be predicted with confidence based on laboratory experiments. Chemical measurements, in contrast, should be reserved for assessing point sources, investigating mechanisms which lead to short-term temporal fluctuations in compound loads, and determining in-situ degradation rates in conjunction with modelling.