UNESCO Chair special session on “Hydro-climatic Settings and Water Augmentation Challenges of Arid Environments”

The Chair Special Session was conducted during the 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, held in Swakopmund, Namibia from 25 to 27 October 2017. The Session was scheduled for 26 October 2017 from 14h00 to 17h00. 

The main challenges discussed during the session centred on the impact of climatic conditions of the arid environments (i.e. high temperatures, high evaporation rates, run off and low recharge) on water augmentation programmes, viz. wastewater treatment and desalination technologies, as well as municipal water conveyance systems. Two new technologies/approaches for water treatment (Peracetic acid (PAA) and Advanced oxidation) and one new model desalination plant (single basin solar evaporator) were introduced. The session closed with a presentation on quality control of climatic data to ensure reliable meteorological/climatic baseline studies that can inform new/alternative water augmentation programmes. 

The following abstracts of the Special Session are part of the Symposium Proceedings: 

1. Kgabi NA, Hydro-climatic Settings and Water Augmentation Challenges of Arid Environments, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

2. Kwaambwa H, Moringa Tree: From curiosity to application in water and wastewater treatment and climate change mitigation, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

3. Garg A, Advances in wastewater disinfection, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

4. Lumaga PB, Hansmann H, Mashauri DM, Siering J, Techno-economical design of a single basin solar evaporator, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

5. Nakale SA, Sirunda J, Kgabi N, Evaluating the effectiveness of BioSprite in reducing Chlorine Demand at the Windhoek Airport Scheme, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

6. Hafeni A, Kgabi N, Hamatui N, Assessment of Conveyance Efficiency of Okahandja and Rehoboth Municipal Water Supply Systems, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

7. Kapweya A, Kgabi N, Onjefu S, Assessment of desalinating efficiency of renewable energy-operated desalination plants in Namibia, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017 

8. Reju SA and Kgabi NA, Wavelet Analyses and Comparative Denoised Signals of Meteorological Factors of the Namibian Atmosphere, 18th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Swakopmund, Namibia, 25 – 27 October 2017. 

All presentations are currently being developed into full papers to be submitted in February 2018 for possible publication in the Elsevier Journal of Chemistry and Physics of the Earth.