International Journal of Hydraulics and Wastewater Treatment Technologies (p-3107-9180)

Revisiting Localised Conflict, Transboundary Water and Socio-economic Condition of Coastal Dwellers in the Cross River Basin, Nigeria

2026-03-13T04:49:04+00:00

The management of transboundary water resources in Sub-Saharan Africa remains a complex challenge, frequently characterized by “hydropolitical” tensions that transcend simple resource scarcity. This study investigates the nexus between localized conflict, transboundary water dynamics, and the socio-economic conditions of coastal dwellers within the Cross River Basin, Nigeria, with a specific focus on the high-tension Calabar-Itu corridor. Utilizing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, the research integrated quantitative data from 160 household questionnaires across eight adjoining communities—including Itu Mbonuso, Oku-Iboku, and Mbiabo—with qualitative insights from key informant interviews (KII) and household-level interviews (HLI). The findings reveal a catastrophic correlation between hydrological shifts and systemic poverty, particularly where the river’s lateral migration serves as a contested administrative boundary. Results indicate that high-impact hotspots like Ikot Offiong and Obot Akpan experience livelihood disruptions as high as 88% and annual income losses of up to 60%, signaling that the "cost of conflict" has manifested in communal clashes, making infrastructural development impossible in the region. Thematic analysis exposes a “Living Boundary” paradox, where static administrative lines fail to account for dynamic hydrological changes, resulting in a perpetual insecurity among artisanal fishers, investors and the entire inhabitants. The study concludes that the basin suffers from "Economic stagnation," driven not by a lack of resources, but by administrative vacuums and a lack of “paradiplomacy” involving traditional institutions. To mitigate these conflicts, the study recommends a radical departure from the status quo, advocating for the establishment of Joint Resource Zones, the integration of indigenous peace-making mechanisms, and the deployment of AI-driven remote sensing to provide objective data on river migration. Ultimately, fostering “proactive hydro-solidarity” is essential to transforming the Cross River from a site of communal friction into a stable conduit for regional socio-economic development.

A Comparative Study of KNN and Classification Algorithms for Wastewater Pipe Condition Rating

2026-02-04T16:44:34+00:00

Risk-based condition assessment is central to prioritizing wastewater infrastructure by linking pipe failure likelihood with associated consequences. This study presents an automated framework for assigning overall pipe condition ratings by integrating internal pipe characteristics, external environmental conditions, and hydraulic and operational indicators. Conventional manual interpretation of CCTV inspection data is labor-intensive and subject to evaluator variability, limiting scalability and consistency. To address these challenges, this work applies a K-nearest neighbors (KNN) classifier to infer comprehensive pipe condition ratings from historical inspection and attribute data. The proposed KNN model is used to identify deteriorated pipe segments requiring near-term rehabilitation or replacement. Its performance is systematically compared with decision tree (DT) and random forest (RF) classifiers using accuracy, precision, recall, and class-wise behavior across five condition categories. The framework is validated using wastewater collection system data from Shreveport, Louisiana, and is aligned with established industry condition assessment practices. Results indicate that machine-learning-based classifiers can effectively function as decision-support tools within a multi-factor pipe condition rating framework, supporting improved asset prioritization and infrastructure management.

Beyond Treatment: Developing Pandemic-resilient Wastewater Systems for Public Health Protection

2026-02-24T09:03:12+00:00

Pandemic events exert profound pressure not only on healthcare systems but also on economic structures, environmental quality, and essential public infrastructure. While the direct health impacts of pandemics are widely documented, their secondary effects on wastewater management systems remain comparatively underexplored. This study investigates the complex interactions between pandemics and wastewater systems with the objective of identifying strategies that enhance system resilience and public health protection. Through a qualitative synthesis of existing literature, this research identifies critical challenges encountered by wastewater utilities during pandemics, including surges in wastewater volume, alterations in wastewater composition, operational strain, workforce shortages, and disruptions to supply chains. Among these challenges, increased flow rates and modified contaminant profiles pose the greatest risks, potentially overwhelming treatment facilities, reducing effluent quality, and increasing the likelihood of pathogen dissemination. Operational stressors and reduced staffing capacity further compromise system performance and maintenance, intensifying environmental and public health threats. To address these vulnerabilities, the study highlights key resilience-building strategies such as proactive capacity planning, infrastructure modernization, operational preparedness, data-driven management, and strengthened environmental safeguards. These measures include forecasting demand, upgrading treatment processes, protecting personnel, applying wastewater-based epidemiology for informed decision-making, and enhancing disinfection practices. Collectively, these approaches support the development of robust, adaptive, and sustainable wastewater systems capable of withstanding future pandemic conditions.

Comparison of Crude Oil Degradation in Freshwater and Saltwater Environments Using Batch Reactors

2026-01-30T09:38:50+00:00

The degradation of crude oil in freshwater and saltwater was investigated using experimental methods and mathematical modeling for a packed-bed treatment unit. Two tanks of equal capacity were filled with 1.5 m³ of freshwater and saltwater, respectively. Six control valves were installed at uniform depth intervals to allow sample collection over 42 days at 7-day intervals. Collected samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, total bacterial counts (TBC), and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations. A dispersion and degradation model was developed, combining first-order degradation kinetics with the Monod equation, to describe TPH diffusion within the water columns. Experimental results showed that TBC gradually increased in both water types up to day 30, followed by a rapid rise between days 35 and 40. TPH concentrations declined over time, though variations occurred with depth. The effect of crude oil contamination was more pronounced in freshwater compared to saltwater. Model validation revealed that predictions based on first-order degradation kinetics closely matched the observed TPH data, whereas the Monod-based model deviated from experimental results. This indicates that Monod kinetics may not be suitable for modeling crude oil degradation in stagnant water environments. The study highlights the differential behavior of crude oil dispersion and degradation in freshwater versus saltwater.