Publications in Water

Groundwater Quality and its Health Impact: An assessment of Dental Fluorosis in Rural Inhabitants of the Main Ethiopian Rift

April 2012

Increased intake of dietary calcium may be key to addressing widespread dental health problems faced by millions of rural residents in Ethiopia’s remote, poverty-stricken Main Rift Valley, according to a new Duke University-led study published in the journal Environment International. As many as 8 million people living in the valley are estimated to be at risk of dental and skeletal fluorosis as a result of their long-term exposure to high levels of naturally occurring fluoride in the region’s groundwater. Most efforts to combat fluorosis in the region have focused primarily on treating drinking water to reduce its fluoride content. Increasing the amount of calcium in villagers’ diets, or finding alternative sources of drinking water may be necessary in addition to these fluoride-reducing treatments, the study found. Support came from the Duke Global Health Institute and Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.

Building Change towards Full Cost Water: Lessons from the Rate Setting Process

April 2012 - by David Gordon, Bill Holman

To ensure the country's changing water demands and evolving environmental challenges are met, the water industry must find new strategies and partners to map a new way forward. A new paper by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions highlights the importance of rate setting strategy. By analyzing disparate rate cases, the authors show that common strategies can exist with regard to rate setting procedures no matter how different the utility.

Freshwater, Climate Change and Adaptation in the Ganges River Basin

April 2012

Climate change is one of the drivers of change in the Ganges river basin, together with population growth, economic development and water management practices. These changing circumstances have a significant impact on key social and economic sectors of the basin, largely through changes in water quantity, quality and timing of availability. This paper evaluates the impact of water on changing circumstances in three sectors of the Ganges basin: agriculture, ecosystems and energy. Given the inherent interconnectedness of these core sectors and the cross-cutting impact of changing circumstances on water resources, we argue that adaptation should not be viewed as a separate initiative, but rather as a goal and perspective incorporated into every level of planning and decision making. Adaptation to changing circumstances will need to be closely linked to water resource management and will require significant collaboration across the sectors.

Considering Shale Gas Extraction in North Carolina: Lessons from Other States

November 2011 - by Sarah Plikunas, Brooks Rainey Pearson, Jonas Monast, Avner Vengosh and Rob Jackson

Because North Carolina has no active oil and gas production and no existing regulatory framework for this industry, it has a unique opportunity to build a program from the ground up. This paper looks at the environmental and health concerns surrounding hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas trapped below the ground, and shares regulatory approaches other states are taking to reduce these risks. Further, it focuses on several measures North Carolina lawmakers should understand when considering whether, and under what conditions, to allow shale gas extraction in the state.

A Silent Tsunami Revisited: Extending Global Access to Clean Water and Sanitation

August 2011 - by Harriet C. Babbit, Malcom S. Morris

Freshwater Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment: The Indrawati Sub-Basin, Nepal

July 2011 - by Ryan Bartlett, Sarah Freeman, Jonathan Cook, Bhawani S. Dongol, Roshan Sherchan, Moon Shrestha, and Peter G. McCornick

This report is part of a project of WWF Nepal and the Nepalese Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS). It outlines the discussions and conclusions of three workshops held in Nepal to determine the vulnerability of the Indrawati sub-basin to the impacts of climate change and development within the context of climate change vulnerability at the national level. Held over the course of four days in Kathmandu and in the Sindhupalchok district headquarters of Chautara, the workshops brought together a diverse group of more than 60 participants, including Nepali national experts, local bureaucrats, and most importantly, local water users and subsistence farmers with direct knowledge of resource management issues in the basin.

A Review of U.S. Efforts in Water and Sanitation

June 2011 - by Cheryl Choge, Courtney Harrison, Peter McCornick, and Ryan Bartlett

Access to safe water and sanitation has expanded significantly around the world in recent years, in part because of efforts by the United States, which has been increasingly active in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector through engagement by the government, foundations, NGOs, faith-based organizations, academia and the private sector. The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University has assessed the momentum, funding and effectiveness of this engagement since 2005, when the Nicholas Institute and the Aspen Institute held a forum on WASH challenges. This report references recommendations from that forum and presents the results of recent structured interviews with over 45 stakeholders active in the WASH sector. These stakeholders provided invaluable insights on what has been achieved, what has changed, and what requires attention. Particular consideration was given to the efforts of the U.S. government (USG).

Climate Ready Estuaries: A Blueprint for Change

March 2011 - by Bill Holman and Amy Pickle

Initially conceived as an outreach pilot to increase public and local government awareness in five counties of the Albemarle-Pamlico region, our Blueprint summarizes the initial outreach efforts, includes findings and recommendations for increasing the region’s climate resilience, compiles a resource of up-to-date science on sea-level rise impacts, and serves as a first step in educating the public and decision makers about the opportunities and challenges of becoming a climate ready estuary.

Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in Nepal

January 2011 - by Ryan Bartlett, Luna Bharati, Dhruba Pant, Heather Hosterman, Peter McCornick

The impacts of climate change on water resources will have wide-reaching implications for agricultural systems and food security around the globe. This is especially true for Nepal, a poorly developed country where a high percentage of the population is dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. It is thus crucial for Nepal’s leaders and resource managers to draft and begin implementing national adaptation plans. This working paper aims to create a more comprehensive understanding of how these impacts will be realized at different scales in Nepal, from household livelihoods to national food security, and the many institutions governing the ultimate adaptation process. It concludes with potential solutions for how the country can overcome the many hurdles it faces in the adaptation process as it continues to develop.

Better Health through Improvements in Water and Sanitation

September 2010 - by Cheryl Choge, Peter McCornick

While significant progress has been made towards addressing the challenge of providing basic water access, there are still nearly one billion people who lack convenient access to safe water, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South and East Asia. Furthermore, over two and a half billion people in the world lack access to adequate sanitation. This brief examines an integrated approach of water, sanitation, and hygiene which will maximize health impacts.

Assessing Climate Change Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Responses in the Siphandone/Stung Treng Area with a Focus on Protecting Vulnerable Ecosystems

July 2010 - by Elizabeth Kistin and Peter McCornick

This workshop report reflects discussions and analysis conducted by 16 regional experts who gathered to test the methodology outlined in Flowing Forward with reference to the Siphandone/Stung Treng area in the Mekong River basin. The findings presented here highlight the significant effects of both climate change and development pressures on ecosystems and livelihoods in the case study area and discuss the ongoing and potential future policy and infrastructure responses to changing circumstances.

Payments for Nutrient Reductions and Ecosystem Services in Falls Lake

July 2010 - by David Gordon

Climate Ready Estuaries Preliminary Lessons Learned; Informing Communication Strategies and Recommendations

July 2010 - by Amy Pickle, Katherine McGlade, Joanna Field and Bill Holman

Perceptions of Water Scarcity in the Triangle

May 2010 - by Jennifer Fitts, Kevin Fritze, Shuai Shao, Angela Vasconcellos, Elise Vergnano and Emily Vuxton

Public Participation in Watershed Management: An Evaluation of the Falls Lake Stakeholder Project

May 2010 - by Brooke C. Gray and Dr. Lynn Maguire, Advisor

Public participation has become an increasingly important component of effective watershed management over the last twenty years. Conducted by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality, the Falls Lake Stakeholder Project is a collaborative stakeholder process that includes interested parties in drafting a federally mandated Nutrient Management Strategy. The Falls Lake Stakeholder Project worked to improve the stakeholder process by responding to issues recognized in a prior North Carolina Division of Water Quality project, the Jordan Lake Stakeholder Project.

How Can Local Governments in NC Change Stormwater Management Policy to Encourage Downtown Redevelopment and Improve Environmental Outcomes?

April 2010 - by Aroha Bahuguna, Matthew Jentgen, Molly Ward and Gray Wilson

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