Alone, the public sector cannot help nations achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 target by 2030 due to financial constraints. Studies indicate that shifting water financing policies creates unequal social and economic impacts across different regions and timeframes. These disparities stem from the uneven natural distribution of water and the ongoing competition between different sectors for limited resources. Complex, ostensibly, synergistic public-private partnerships in water financing distends and intersperse with geopolitical dynamics disenfranchising fragile livelihoods in least developed nations with contrasting patterns for the developed world. A caveat looms in synthesizing, developing, decoding and integrating fiscal policies to incentivise multifaceted stakeholder financing, participation and uptake and mainstreaming holistic water and sanitation projects for sustainable livelihoods. This contemporary systematic and bibliometric literature review used a derivate SPAR-4-SLR model to evaluate the contribution of financial paradigms and fiscal policies toward the attainment of SDG 6 targets by 2030 for Africa, Asia, and South and North America. Extensive research highlights a persistent financing gap in the water and sanitation sectors, which fundamentally aligns with global patterns of systemic poverty. While developed nations have successfully leveraged functional public-private partnerships to address these shortfalls, lower-income regions remain trapped by a lack of investment capital. Future research imperatives delegate towards evaluating the stochastic impacts of capital markets, in tandem with tailored water market instruments buttressed by donor funding and innovative localized funding mechanisms to achieve SDG 6 by 2030.

Local community participation plays an increasingly important role in the sustainable management of river basins. Communities’ contribution to protecting hydrological basins and the ecosystems surrounding them has been recognized in the political and scientific debate. Hence, protecting these ecosystems from a socio-ecosystemic approach is necessary. This research work, based on empirical evidence, aims to contribute to comprehending the relationship between communitarian action and the protection of river basins and the ecosystems surrounding them. For this purpose, we conduct a documentary and ethnographic study of the Community Water Supply Service Systems (CWS) located in the high and middle basin of the Guarino River in Marulanda, Caldas, Colombia. This work considers the communitarian character of these systems as well as their compatibility with the environment and their long-term sustainability. Recognizing some of these community systems as strategies for environmental protection and an efficient supply of water services is necessary for improving water management in river basins. It also recognizes the indissociable relationship existing between environmental sustainability and the construction of territorialities around community governance of water resources in rural areas.

This study challenges the conventional explanations for the failure of Türkiye’s ambitious $21 billion Peace Water Pipeline Project (1986–1995) by demonstrating that technological disruption, rather than geopolitical obstacles, fundamentally undermined this transboundary water initiative. While traditional analyses emphasize political tensions, our research reveals that the concurrent rapid advancement of desalination technology decisively altered the strategic calculus of potential recipient nations, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Through a comparative case study analysis of Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 1985–1995, we document how these nations systematically rejected pipeline dependence in favor of a domestic desalination capacity that offered superior strategic autonomy, cost competitiveness, and operational flexibility. The study demonstrates that desalination technology improvements during this critical decade—including energy consumption reductions from 20–25 kWh/m 3 to 8–12 kWh/m 3 for reverse osmosis systems and production cost declines from $2.50–3.50/m 3 to $1.00–1.50/m 3 —made domestic water production economically viable while eliminating dependencies inherent in transboundary pipeline projects. Our analysis reveals that Gulf states were willing to pay significant “sovereignty premiums” for water independence, gaining complete control over supply security and protection from political manipulation of water access. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of how technological innovation functions as an independent agent in international resource diplomacy, reshaping cooperative frameworks more decisively than traditional diplomatic negotiations. This case illuminates critical lessons for contemporary water security challenges, demonstrating how emerging technologies can rapidly obsolete large-scale infrastructure projects during their planning phases.

Introduction 14Fecal contamination of water bodies poses significant risks to both human health and ecological 15 systems, as it introduces organic matter, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and potentially 16 pathogenic microorganisms. Such contamination can compromise water quality, leading to 17 environmental degradation, waterborne microbial infections and economic losses, particularly in 18 sensitive settings such as drinking water supplies, recreational waters, and shellfish harvesting areas. 19The frequent detection of enteropathogens across diverse aquatic ecosystems underscores the 20 importance of rapidly and reliably identifying the sources of fecal pollution to support effective water 21 quality management, remediation efforts, and public health risk assessments.

Balancing ecotourism development with water resource sustainability is an urgent challenge for semiarid cities experiencing escalating water stress. Tehran, a rapidly expanding Middle Eastern metropolis, has faced acute water scarcity in recent years, making water-entered planning critical for sustainable tourism. This study combines ecological capability evaluation (ECE), GIS-based multi-criteria analysis, and institutional review to delineate suitable zones for ecotourism. Twenty-three indicators across physical, ecohydrological, and socio-economic dimensions were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and integrated through Weighted Linear Combination (WLC). Results showed a clear spatial polarization: northern highlands and river valleys, with higher precipitation and abundant surface water, were identified as the most suitable areas for both intensive and extensive ecotourism, while southern plains with chronic water scarcity and flood risk were classified as unsuitable. More than 60% of intensive ecotourism zones are located within 1 km of perennial rivers, underscoring the decisive role of surface water. Extensive ecotourism suitability was more strongly associated with upland regions combining groundwater accessibility and higher rainfall. This study shows that water is not merely a limiting resource but the strategic axis around which ecotourism planning in semiarid cities must be organized. The framework developed here provides a decision-support tool for Tehran and offers transferable guidance for semiarid metropolitan regions confronting water scarcity and uncoordinated land-use expansion.

This study examines a coastal aquifer located along the eastern sandy coast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, which serves as the primary water source for both local and seasonal tourist populations. The inhabitants in these resorts swell fivefold during the summer months, placing additional pressure on the aquifer’s resources. The study area, a 60 km-long coastal barrier, features a shallow freshwater aquifer that has been systematically monitored over several years, yielding a comprehensive conceptual understanding of its behavior. Water table data from wells positioned 100, 300, and 600 m from the shoreline, alongside rainfall and tidal records, were used to explore short-term variations, particularly the anthropogenic effects during the summer tourist influx. Due to data limitations attempts with conventional models produced results inconsistent with prior knowledge of the aquifer. To assess the dynamic response of this aquifer under these conditions, a simple, intuitive, and computationally efficient method was developed using a modified electrical–hydraulic analogy integrated with an electrical circuit analysis program (ECAP).The proposed methodology successfully quantified recharge and discharge dynamics, including flow reversals in the intertidal zone and delayed responses to rainfall in urbanized areas. Also, it was simulated sea-level rise effects on the discharge to the sea and inland. Additionally, it enables estimation of aquifer transmissivity or storativity, given one of these parameters is known. Importantly, this approach requires no software licensing and offers a practical tool for both short-and long-term dynamic analysis in data-limited contexts. It is well-suited for preliminary assessments, educational purposes and when conventional numerical models are impractical or unreliable. This study contributes to the sustainable management of the San Clemente del Tuyú aquifer, providing a transferable framework for other coastal aquifers facing similar data constraints. It highlights the value of the modified electrical–hydraulic analogy combined with an ECAP in complementing more complex modeling techniques.

This study synthesizes peer-reviewed literature and government reports to examine the relationship between climate change and the frequency, occurrence, and intensity of tropical cyclones in southern Malawi. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining spatial mapping, literature synthesis, and trend analysis of cyclone data from the past three decades. It also analyzes rainfall data from nine meteorological stations using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and conducts stakeholder interviews across four districts. Using literature review of peer-reviewed literature and government documents, this study assessed the link between climate change and the occurrence, frequency, and magnitude of tropical cyclones that lead to Loss and damage in several areas, including various types of physical infrastructure, agriculture, and food security in Africa. The study focuses on Southern Africa, using Malawi as a case study. It examines the occurrence and frequency of tropical cyclones in the Southern region over the past 30 years. Specifically, the study aims to: (i) Analyze trends of tropical cyclones and related temperature and extreme rainfall events, including floods, for the past three decades, and (ii) Map areas affected by Tropical cyclones and related extreme rainfall events over the past 30 years. Findings reveal an increasing trend in tropical cyclone occurrences since the 2000s, with particularly intense events such as those in 2015, 2019, and 2023 coinciding with La Niña conditions. Statistical analysis using Mann-Kendall trend tests and Pearson correlations confirms significant upward trends in both cyclone frequency (Tau = 0.29, p < 0.05) and rainfall anomalies ( r = 0.51, p < 0.01). The study results show an increasing occurrence of Tropical cyclones from the 2000s. These findings demonstrate correlations between increased cyclone activity and climate change indicators, consistent with established attribution studies but requiring additional multivariable climate modeling for definitive causal attribution, reinforcing the need to prioritize agricultural resilience within the Loss and Damage framework under the UNFCCC. The increasing trends in cyclone frequency and intensity show correlations with climate change patterns and align with established climate projections. However, definitively establishing direct causal attribution requires comprehensive climate modeling, which is beyond the scope of this study. These observed trends are consistent with regional attribution studies, suggesting that management of losses and damages in agriculture deserves special attention within the Loss and Damage framework.

Synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are pervasive micropollutants found in aquatic, terrestrial, and anthropogenic systems that cause irreversible damage to human and wildlife hormonal function. Although research is underway to monitor EDCs in water, the effect of wildfire erosion on EDC contamination in watersheds is underexplored. Wildfires modify soil and vegetation properties, often leading to increased erosion and sediment, especially following rainfall. Some synthetic EDCs that are known to persist in watersheds are heat-resistant and mobile, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Wildfires have the potential to transport and concentrate EDCs from terrestrial environments into aquatic systems via post-fire runoff. A scoping review was conducted in Elsevier Scopus to assess knowledge on wildfire-related mobilization of synthetic EDCs. Six target chemical groups were searched using broad wildfire-associated terms. From 164 screened records, 11 met inclusion criteria. The available studies spanned several EDC groups and focused largely on air ( n = 8) and soil ( n = 4) matrices, with some work involving biota. No research examined EDC transport in aquatic environments. Based on the evidence identified through this scoping review, we propose that wildfire-driven erosion may increase EDC transport into watersheds, posing a cumulative and significant threat to water quality. In response to these findings, we present a targeted post-wildfire EDC monitoring panel to support early detection and timely management actions. We also outline key research priorities to advance understanding of EDC behavior in post-fire landscapes. We aim to alert water quality monitoring professionals to this underrecognized hazard and to highlight the urgent need for focused research on its implications for both public and environmental health.

The Mediterranean water sector faces multiple challenges. Climate change not only drives future water shortages but also drastically affects the effectiveness of water storage strategies, such as small and large reservoirs. Furthermore, the limited involvement of local actors often hampers the success of implemented solutions. We apply a co-modeling approach within the Val d'Orcia Rural Living Lab, to inform water planners about the potential impacts of climate change on reservoir water dynamics and to nourish the discussion on climate change adaptation. Specifically, we simulate various water storage strategies by alternatively considering existing small agricultural reservoirs (SmARs) and a planned large dam under current and projected future climates considering five climate models under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 585. Due to the reduced precipitation and increased temperature, future annual average water stored in both types of reservoirs is expected to decline (−6.3%) as a result of limited inflows (−30%) and enhanced evaporation (8.7%) by the end of the century. Moreover, seepage losses decrease (−9.8%) reducing aquifer recharge. While the trends in these key variables are consistent across storage types, SmARs are more susceptible to climate change, with water storage reductions of up to −21%. Evaporation losses increases are a major concern for the dam, whereas the reduction of inflows poses a major threat to the reliability of the smaller SmARs. Still, SmARs have several advantages and a more comprehensive and participatory analysis is important for appropriate decision-making. By involving local actors from the early stages, this research poses the basis for developing future best watershed management practices within a representative Mediterranean catchment.

The Rogun Dam project, designed to be the world’s tallest dam, represents a remarkable case of transboundary water conflict transformation in Central Asia. This study examines how relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan evolved from near-military confrontation to emerging cooperation over this contentious hydropower project. Initially conceived during the Soviet era as an internal infrastructure development, the dam became a flashpoint for regional tensions following the USSR’s collapse in 1991, with downstream Uzbekistan strongly opposing its construction. Through qualitative case study methodology, we analyze how domestic political dynamics—particularly leadership change in Uzbekistan in 2016—fundamentally altered bilateral relations and regional hydropolitics. Our research reveals that while technical assessments by international organizations provided necessary factual foundations, the decisive factor in conflict transformation was the shift in political leadership that prioritized economic integration and mutual benefits over zero-sum competition. This study contributes to transboundary water management literature by demonstrating that internal political transformations can be as significant as international diplomatic frameworks in resolving seemingly intractable water disputes. The Rogun case offers valuable insights for addressing similar conflicts globally, highlighting how leadership-driven diplomatic shifts can transform water conflicts into opportunities for regional cooperation. Through qualitative case study methodology incorporating analysis of publicly available various sorts of documents, we traced the evolution of bilateral relations over three decades while examining the interplay between domestic political transitions and international water diplomacy frameworks. Semi-structured content analysis of documents was supplemented with contextual examination of regional economic and geopolitical factors influencing stakeholder positions.