A preliminary assessment was carried out in identifying the salinity zones due to considerable concern over salty groundwater resources in Vanuatu’s Shefa and Malampa regions. Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were measured on the islands of Efate, Lamen, and Nguna in Shefa province, as well as the islands of Ambrym and Paama in Malampa province. Thirty-four percent of the samples exceeded Vanuatu’s National Drinking Water Standards with an average of 3123 μS/Cm indicating possible salinity zones. Whereas the average pH of 7.21 was in the range of acceptable levels. EC values as high as 18,520 μS/cm indicate groundwater in some locations are unfit for drinking. The average Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of 1717 mg.L-1 is also indicating non-compliance with standards. Salinity zone maps were developed based on the observations. Further detailed studies need to be conducted to ascertain the factors that influence groundwater salinity, such as geology, island type, and seasonality.

As groundwater is the primary element of life, countries all over the world are experimenting with legal reforms. The degree to which law reforms combine justice and sustainability is a crucial question. In response to this question, the present article focuses on a case study of Uttar Pradesh, India. Our response is based on a content analysis of the Uttar Pradesh Groundwater (Management and Regulation) Act, 2019, and the Uttar Pradesh Groundwater (Management and Regulation) Rules, 2020. Three conclusions emerged from our investigation. First, the 2019 Groundwater Act and the 2020 Draft Groundwater Rules are primarily motivated by concerns about resource sustainability, particularly in areas where the water table is steadily declining. Still, neither the 2019 Groundwater Act nor the 2020 Draft Groundwater Rules propose any proactive groundwater justice measures. Second, we suggest that some locally defined basic elements are critical in supporting sustainability and – to a lesser extent – groundwater justice. These characteristics include a community’s ability to (1) recognize a crisis and show a willingness to address it; (2) establish a rule-bound community groundwater resource; (3) demonstrate leadership and a sense of community; and (4) make use of awareness, information, and knowledge. Our third conclusion is that there is a need for community practices and state-led groundwater law to co-evolve; this co-evolution has the potential to create groundwater arrangements that support both groundwater justice and sustainability.

Chromium contamination in water bodies poses severe risks to both the environment and human health. This research introduces an innovative solution to this challenge by creating a vapor-activated carbosorbent from biodegradable household waste. The efficacy of this adsorbent in removing total chromium through batch methods from aqueous solutions was investigated. Surface analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited a porous structure, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified distinct functional groups on the surface. The point of zero charge (PZC), determined at 6.95, revealed the adsorbent’s surface chemistry. Impressively, the synthesized carbosorbent exhibited significant adsorption capacities of 23.08 mg.g-1 for Cr(III) and 24.84 mg.g-1 for Cr(VI) under optimal conditions. The Langmuir isotherm model illustrated a monolayer adsorption mechanism aligned with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, confirming chemisorption. Thermodynamic analysis disclosed favorable and spontaneous chromium adsorption. Negative ΔG° values affirmed the spontaneity, while the exothermic nature of the process was signified by the positive ΔH° value, indicating heat release. Increased randomness at the solid-liquid interface, indicated by the positive ΔS° value, underscored the enhanced affinity between the adsorbent and adsorbate. This study exemplifies the potential of the vapor-activated carbosorbent as an efficient and sustainable remedy for chromium-contaminated water bodies.

This study aims to determine how vulnerable groundwater in Khartoum is to contamination. For this purpose, the DRASTIC Index idea was used. A descriptive cross-sectional analytical analysis is designed in this study. A total of 279 boreholes were sampled from a total of 1015 boreholes (27.5 percent). The following criteria were utilized to define the DRASTIC Index: depth, net recharge, aquifer media, soil texture, terrain, video media, and soil conductivity. Standard bacteriological test methodologies were used for groundwater. The biological data from the 279 boreholes revealed that total coliform, thermo-tolerant coliform, and E. coli were found in 34.4 percent, 18.6 percent, and 0.36 percent of the boreholes, respectively. Bacteriological contamination is common in Sharge Elnile, although only a few cases have been reported in Khartoum. According to the study, the bulk of boreholes in Khartoum State were built without any criteria. Many sources of contamination were discovered within a radius of less than 120 meters, which was deemed to violate Khartoum State’s Environmental Health Law of 2002. For this reason, bacteriological contamination is common in Sharge Elnile, although only a few cases have been reported in Khartoum.