p. 213-255 | Food security and water security in the Mediterranean are intrinsically linked and are facing similar challenges. Food security is threatened mainly by the high dependency of Mediterranean countries on food imports, making them vulnerable to external pressures such as volatile food prices. From a nutritional standpoint, the number of overweight and obese people has increased as a result of the traditional Mediterranean diet being abandoned. Water security has degenerated due to the deterioration of internal freshwater resources, both in terms of water quantity and quality, with a high dependency on external water resources, higher regional water footprints than the global average, increasing scarcity of renewable water resources, an increased number and capacity of dams exerting pressure on freshwater ecosystems, and a growing risk of conflicts between water users and countries. Access to water and sanitation remains a major challenge in the region. Territorial divisions separating coastal urban and remote rural areas are growing stronger, making isolated populations such as smallholder farmers particularly at risk of food and water insecurity. With climate change, precipitation is expected to decrease and temperatures to rise in the region, which will affect water supply (and thereby energy and food supply). It will also directly affect soil moisture and crop growth, thereby further increasing irrigation water needs. There are clear but difficult to measure interactions between the water, energy and agricultural sectors, as they are all interdependent, which calls for integrated policies and management. Agriculture being the largest water user in the region, further efforts need to be made to promote the use of non-conventional water resources. The conservation and restoration of Mediterranean agroecosystems is key to ensuring sustainable development. This requires better management of continuing arable land loss, land use intensification, and soil erosion and salinization. Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Demand Management (WDM) provide guidelines for achieving better water efficiency and reducing conflicts between users.

This article discusses the basic ways of water-preparation in food industry. Water-preparation plan with elements of disinfecting for production of drinking water and drinks is given. The analysis shows that water should meet definite microbiological requirements. In order to reduce its fatal influence on the health of people the clearing and preparation of water are necessary. Development of techniques and means of clearing without chemical technologies, including ozone treatment technologies, allows one to lower and to get rid of application of chemical compounds and reagents. At the moment the ozone treatment water technologies with consequent treatment on filling filters are the most rational. Ozone is the strong oxidant and disinfects water faster than chlorine in some times. With activated carbon use both the flavouring qualities and smell become better. Technology of mutual ozone processing with absorption is the most perspective for water purification and disinfection, possessives a high efficiency in comparison with attitude to pathogen microorganisms, does not lead to the formation of harmful collateral products. Therefore, the questions of development of safe technologies and means for water preparation and treatment are actual and well timed

The proliferation of food, feed and biofuels demands promises to increase pressure on water competition and stress, particularly for Thailand, which has a large agricultural base. This study assesses the water footprint of ten staple crops grown in different regions across the country and evaluates the impact of crop water use in different regions/watersheds by the water stress index and the indication of water deprivation potential. The ten crops include major rice, second rice, maize, soybean, mungbean, peanut, cassava, sugarcane, pineapple and oil palm. The water stress index of the 25 major watersheds in Thailand has been evaluated. The results show that there are high variations of crop water requirements grown in different regions due to many factors. However, based on the current cropping systems, the Northeastern region has the highest water requirement for both green water (or rain water) and blue water (or irrigation water). Rice (paddy) farming requires the highest amount of irrigation water, i.e., around 10,489 million m3/year followed by the maize, sugarcane, oil palm and cassava. Major rice cultivation induces the highest water deprivation, i.e., 1862 million m3H2Oeq/year; followed by sugarcane, second rice and cassava. The watersheds that have high risk on water competition due to increase in production of the ten crops considered are the Mun, Chi and Chao Phraya watersheds. The main contribution is from the second rice cultivation. Recommendations have been proposed for sustainable crops production in the future. (Résumé d'auteur)

In the tropics, the water potential of a region cannot be adequately assessed from precipitation alone due to the seasonal character of rainfall and even more so owing to the changing climate scenario. It is therefore necessary that in any agro-climatological program, there must be a clear understanding of the actual amount of water that evaporates and transpires (AET), and the amount of water that would evaporate and transpire if water were always readily available (PET). This could be done through the method of the water balance. The present work examines the water budget of parts of the Imo river basin and its implications for improved crop production through supplementary irrigation schedules. It was observed, that the study area is already facing moisture-stress. This is because even during rainy months supplementary irrigation is required to compensate for the occasionally moisture deficit due to increased evapotranspiration. The study showed that cultivation of maize, rice and tomatoes can be carried out on an all-year round basis under a scientific irrigation scheme. Thus the study provided farmers with guideline on the period and quantity of water required for supplementary irrigation, a development which will prevents wilting of plants before the application of needed water.

Most of the world irrigation systems were developed on a step-by-step basis, over the centuries, and were designed for a long life (50 years or more), on the assumption that climatic conditions would not change in the future. This will not be so in the years to come due to the global warming and greenhouse effect. Therefore, engineers and decision makers need to systematically review planning principles, design criteria, operating rules, contingency plans and management policies for new infrastructures. In relation to these issues and based on available information, the report gives an overview of current and future (time horizon 2025) irrigation development around the world. Moreover, the paper analyses the results of the most recent and advanced General Circulation Models for assessing the hydrological impacts of climate variability on crop requirements, water availability, food security and the planning and design process of irrigation systems. Finally, a five-step planning and design procedure is proposed able to integrate, within the development process, the hydrological consequences of climate change | [A livello mondiale, la maggior parte dei sistemi di irrigazione è stata sviluppata gradualmente, nel corso dei secoli ed è stata progettata per lunghi periodi (50 anni o più) in base al presupposto che le condizioni climatiche non sarebbero cambiate in futuro. Questo non sarà più vero per i prossimi anni, per effetto del riscaldamento globale e dell'effetto serra. Perciò, i tecnici e i politici devono rivedere sistematicamente i principi di programmazione, i criteri di progettazione, le norme operative, i pianti di emergenza e le politiche di gestione per le nuove infrastrutture. In relazione a queste questioni e in base alle informazioni disponibili, il contributo fornisce una panoramica dello sviluppo presente e futuro (orizzonte temporale al 2025) dello sviluppo dell'irrigazione a livello mondiale. Inoltre, il lavoro analizza i risultati dei Modelli di Circolazione Generale più recenti e avanzati per determinare gli impatti idrologici della variabilità climatica sulle esigenze delle coltivazioni, la disponibilità di acqua, la sicurezza alimentare e il processo di programmazione e progettazione dei sistemi di irrigazione. Infine, viene proposta una procedura di programmazione e progettazione a cinque fasi, in grado di incorporare nel processo di sviluppo le conseguenze idrologiche del cambiamento climatico]

Study was preformed to assess the relationship between water consumption, feed intake, and respiratory disease in 2200 commercial finishing pigs in the U.K. The pigs were housed in 4 conventional finishing sheds in groups of 20-25 per pen and fed ad-lib. Water was supplied via bite drinkers. Meters were installed on the water supply line to each shed and daily readings were taken. Feed intake was assessed daily by the stockman. Coughing incidence was measured daily as an indicator of respiratory disease. On a clinicial evaluation Enzootic Pneumonia and/or Swine Influenza outbreaks occurred during the study. During the study 9 episode of decreased food intake occurred/ In 8 of these there was a concurrent decrease in water usage. During 4 episodes there was an increase in the coughing sours. In these 4 cases the water decrease preceeded the decline in food intake and the rise in coughing. A clear correlation between water consumption and food intake is demonstrated which suggests that daily water meter readings are an acceptable alternative to maintaining food intake as an indicator of health. It may be possible to use decreased water intakes as an indicator of impending respiratory disease. Overall a water intake of approx 1 litre per 10 kg body weight in the 30-60 kg range was observed.

Diagrs., illus., maps, tables. Includes bibliographies. Summaries (En). For prev. ed. see Card Catalog;