IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i5p2473-d505532.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Extending Natural Limits to Address Water Scarcity? The Role of Non-Conventional Water Fluxes in Climate Change Adaptation Capacity: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sandra Ricart

    (Water and Territory Research Group, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Environmental Intelligence for Global Change Lab, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy)

  • Rubén A. Villar-Navascués

    (Water and Territory Research Group, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain)

  • Maria Hernández-Hernández

    (Water and Territory Research Group, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Laboratory of Climatology, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Department of Regional Geographic Analysis and Physical Geography, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Antonio M. Rico-Amorós

    (Water and Territory Research Group, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Laboratory of Climatology, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Department of Regional Geographic Analysis and Physical Geography, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Jorge Olcina-Cantos

    (Laboratory of Climatology, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Department of Regional Geographic Analysis and Physical Geography, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

  • Enrique Moltó-Mantero

    (Water and Territory Research Group, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Laboratory of Climatology, Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
    Department of Regional Geographic Analysis and Physical Geography, University of Alicante, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain)

Abstract

Water consumption continues to grow globally, and it is estimated that more than 160% of the total global water volume will be needed to satisfy the water requirements in ten years. In this context, non-conventional water resources are being considered to overcome water scarcity and reduce water conflicts between regions and sectors. A bibliometric analysis and literature review of 81 papers published between 2000 and 2020 focused on south-east Spain were conducted. The aim was to examine and re-think the benefits and concerns, and the inter-connections, of using reclaimed and desalinated water for agricultural and urban-tourist uses to address water scarcity and climate change impacts. Results highlight that: (1) water use, cost, quality, management, and perception are the main topics debated by both reclaimed and desalinated water users; (2) water governance schemes could be improved by including local stakeholders and water users in decision-making; and (3) rainwater is not recognized as a complementary option to increase water supply in semi-arid regions. Furthermore, the strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) analysis identifies complementary concerns such as acceptability and investment in reclaimed water, regulation (cost recovery principle), and environmental impacts of desalinated water.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra Ricart & Rubén A. Villar-Navascués & Maria Hernández-Hernández & Antonio M. Rico-Amorós & Jorge Olcina-Cantos & Enrique Moltó-Mantero, 2021. "Extending Natural Limits to Address Water Scarcity? The Role of Non-Conventional Water Fluxes in Climate Change Adaptation Capacity: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-31, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2473-:d:505532
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2473/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2473/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Encarnación Gil-Meseguer & Miguel Borja Bernabé-Crespo & José María Gómez-Espín, 2019. "Recycled Sewage - A Water Resource for Dry Regions of Southeastern Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 33(2), pages 725-737, January.
    2. Martínez-Alvarez, V. & García-Bastida, P.A. & Martin-Gorriz, B. & Soto-García, M., 2014. "Adaptive strategies of on-farm water management under water supply constraints in south-eastern Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 59-67.
    3. Dai, Meng & Huang, Shengzhi & Huang, Qiang & Leng, Guoyong & Guo, Yi & Wang, Lu & Fang, Wei & Li, Pei & Zheng, Xudong, 2020. "Assessing agricultural drought risk and its dynamic evolution characteristics," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    4. Philippe Mongeon & Adèle Paul-Hus, 2016. "The journal coverage of Web of Science and Scopus: a comparative analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 106(1), pages 213-228, January.
    5. Julia Urquijo & Lucia De Stefano, 2016. "Perception of Drought and Local Responses by Farmers: A Perspective from the Jucar River Basin, Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(2), pages 577-591, January.
    6. Javier Alarcón Luque & Luis Juana Sirgado, 2019. "Water demand related to availability and price in an irrigation district in the Segura Basin," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 160-174, January.
    7. Adenike K. Opejin & Rimjhim M. Aggarwal & Dave D. White & J. Leah Jones & Ross Maciejewski & Giuseppe Mascaro & Hessam S. Sarjoughian, 2020. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Food-Energy-Water Nexus Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    8. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Martin-Gorriz, B. & Nicolas, E. & Martinez-Mate, M.A. & Martinez-Alvarez, V., 2018. "Deficit irrigation with reclaimed water in a citrus orchard. Energy and greenhouse-gas emissions analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 93-102.
    9. Hussam Hussein & Filippo Menga & Francesca Greco, 2018. "Monitoring Transboundary Water Cooperation in SDG 6.5.2: How a Critical Hydropolitics Approach Can Spot Inequitable Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-9, October.
    10. Dolores Rey & Javier Calatrava & Alberto Garrido, 2016. "Optimisation of water procurement decisions in an irrigation district: the role of option contracts," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 60(1), pages 130-154, January.
    11. LaVanchy, G. Thomas, 2017. "When wells run dry: Water and tourism in Nicaragua," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 37-50.
    12. Francisco Alcon & Julia Martin-Ortega & Francisco Pedrero & Juan Alarcon & M. Miguel, 2013. "Incorporating Non-market Benefits of Reclaimed Water into Cost-Benefit Analysis: A Case Study of Irrigated Mandarin Crops in southern Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 27(6), pages 1809-1820, April.
    13. Rey, Dolores & Calatrava, Javier & Garrido, Alberto, 2016. "Optimisation of water procurement decisions in an irrigation district: the role of option contracts," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 60(1), January.
    14. Aghapour Sabbaghi, Mohammad & Nazari, Mohammadreza & Araghinejad, Shahab & Soufizadeh, Saeid, 2020. "Economic impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in Zayandehroud river basin in Iran," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    15. Soto-García, M. & Martin-Gorriz, B. & García-Bastida, P.A. & Alcon, F. & Martínez-Alvarez, V., 2013. "Energy consumption for crop irrigation in a semiarid climate (south-eastern Spain)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1084-1093.
    16. Carlos J. Baños & María Hernández & Antonio M. Rico & Jorge Olcina, 2019. "The Hydrosocial Cycle in Coastal Tourist Destinations in Alicante, Spain: Increasing Resilience to Drought," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-20, August.
    17. Georg M. Eichler & Erich J. Schwarz, 2019. "What Sustainable Development Goals Do Social Innovations Address? A Systematic Review and Content Analysis of Social Innovation Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    18. Gaur, Ajai & Kumar, Mukesh, 2018. "A systematic approach to conducting review studies: An assessment of content analysis in 25years of IB research," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 280-289.
    19. Brijesh Mainali & Jyrki Luukkanen & Semida Silveira & Jari Kaivo-oja, 2018. "Evaluating Synergies and Trade-Offs among Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Explorative Analyses of Development Paths in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-25, March.
    20. Julia Urquijo & Lucia De Stefano, 2016. "Perception of Drought and Local Responses by Farmers: A Perspective from the Jucar River Basin, Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(2), pages 577-591, January.
    21. Mounzer, Oussama & Pedrero-Salcedo, Francisco & Nortes, Pedro A. & Bayona, José-Maria & Nicolás-Nicolás, Emilio & Alarcón, Juan José, 2013. "Transient soil salinity under the combined effect of reclaimed water and regulated deficit drip irrigation of Mandarin trees," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 23-29.
    22. Martin-Gorriz, B. & Soto-García, M. & Martínez-Alvarez, V., 2014. "Energy and greenhouse-gas emissions in irrigated agriculture of SE (southeast) Spain. Effects of alternative water supply scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 478-488.
    23. Sandra Ricart & Antonio Rico & Nick Kirk & Franca Bülow & Anna Ribas-Palom & David Pavón, 2019. "How to improve water governance in multifunctional irrigation systems? Balancing stakeholder engagement in hydrosocial territories," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(3), pages 491-524, May.
    24. Bastida, F. & Torres, I.F. & Abadía, J. & Romero-Trigueros, C. & Ruiz-Navarro, A. & Alarcón, J.J. & García, C. & Nicolás, E., 2018. "Comparing the impacts of drip irrigation by freshwater and reclaimed wastewater on the soil microbial community of two citrus species," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 53-62.
    25. Distefano, Tiziano & Kelly, Scott, 2017. "Are we in deep water? Water scarcity and its limits to economic growth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 130-147.
    26. María Fernanda Jaramillo & Inés Restrepo, 2017. "Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture: A Review about Its Limitations and Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-19, October.
    27. Hyerim Yoon & David Sauri & Antonio M. Rico Amorós, 2018. "Shifting Scarcities? The Energy Intensity of Water Supply Alternatives in the Mass Tourist Resort of Benidorm, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    28. Goutam Konapala & Ashok K. Mishra & Yoshihide Wada & Michael E. Mann, 2020. "Climate change will affect global water availability through compounding changes in seasonal precipitation and evaporation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    29. Romero-Trigueros, Cristina & Nortes, Pedro A. & Alarcón, Juan J. & Hunink, Johannes E. & Parra, Margarita & Contreras, Sergio & Droogers, Peter & Nicolás, Emilio, 2017. "Effects of saline reclaimed waters and deficit irrigation on Citrus physiology assessed by UAV remote sensing," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 60-69.
    30. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Gonzalez-Ortega, M.J. & Martinez-Alvarez, V. & Gallego-Elvira, B. & Conesa-Jodar, F.J. & Martin-Gorriz, B., 2019. "Revaluing the nutrition potential of reclaimed water for irrigation in southeastern Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 174-181.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Al-Qthanin, Rahmah N. & AbdAlghafar, Ibrahim M. & Mahmoud, Doaa S. & Fikry, Ahmed M. & AlEnezi, Norah A. & Elesawi, Ibrahim Eid & AbuQamar, Synan F. & Gad, Mohamed M. & El-Tarabily, Khaled A., 2024. "Impact of rice straw mulching on water consumption and productivity of orange trees [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck]," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    2. Agnieszka Piotrowska-Kirschling & Katarzyna Szelągowska-Rudzka & Jakub Karczewski & Joanna Brzeska, 2021. "Application of Shrimp Waste for the Synthesis of Polyurethane–Chitosan Materials with Potential Use in Sorption of Oil Micro-Spills in Water Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Natalia Antonova & Ines Ruiz-Rosa & Javier Mendoza-Jimenez, 2022. "Water Resource Management in Hotels Using a Sustainable Balanced Scorecard," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Edyta Łaskawiec, 2023. "Quality Assessment of Sludge from Filter Backwash Water in Swimming Pool Facilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Mariana Marchioni & Anita Raimondi & Maria Gloria Chiano & Umberto Sanfilippo & Stefano Mambretti & Gianfranco Becciu, 2023. "Costs-benefit Analysis for the use of Shallow Groundwater as non-conventional Water Resource," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(5), pages 2125-2142, March.
    6. Elie Hanna & María R. Felipe-Lucia & Francisco A. Comín, 2024. "Scenario Analysis of Green Infrastructure to Adapt Medium-Size Cities to Climate Change: The Case of Zaragoza, Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Martin-Gorriz, B. & Alarcón, J.J. & Nicolas, E. & Martinez-Alvarez, V., 2016. "Economic feasibility of implementing regulated deficit irrigation with reclaimed water in a grapefruit orchard," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 119-125.
    2. Ricart, Sandra & Rico, Antonio M., 2019. "Assessing technical and social driving factors of water reuse in agriculture: A review on risks, regulation and the yuck factor," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 426-439.
    3. Gao, Yang & Shao, Guangcheng & Wu, Shiqing & Xiaojun, Wang & Lu, Jia & Cui, Jintao, 2021. "Changes in soil salinity under treated wastewater irrigation: A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    4. Abadía, J. & Bastida, F. & Romero-Trigueros, C. & Bayona, J.M. & Vera, A. & García, C. & Alarcón, J.J. & Nicolás, E., 2021. "Interactions between soil microbial communities and agronomic behavior in a mandarin crop subjected to water deficit and irrigated with reclaimed water," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    5. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Martin-Gorriz, B. & Soto-García, M. & Martinez-Mate, M.A. & Martinez-Alvarez, V., 2018. "Producing lettuce in soil-based or in soilless outdoor systems. Which is more economically profitable?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 48-55.
    6. Kledja Canaj & Andi Mehmeti & Julio Berbel, 2021. "The Economics of Fruit and Vegetable Production Irrigated with Reclaimed Water Incorporating the Hidden Costs of Life Cycle Environmental Impacts," Resources, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-13, September.
    7. Guerrero-Baena, M. Dolores & Villanueva, Anastasio J. & Gómez-Limón, José A. & Glenk, Klaus, 2019. "Willingness to pay for improved irrigation water supply reliability: An approach based on probability density functions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 11-22.
    8. Hossein Mikhak & Mehdi Rahimian & Saeed Gholamrezai, 2022. "Implications of changing cropping pattern to low water demand plants due to climate change: evidence from Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 9833-9850, August.
    9. German Santacruz-De León & Janete Moran-Ramírez & José Alfredo Ramos-Leal, 2022. "Impact of Drought and Groundwater Quality on Agriculture in a Semi-Arid Zone of Mexico," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, September.
    10. Bastida, F. & Torres, I.F. & Abadía, J. & Romero-Trigueros, C. & Ruiz-Navarro, A. & Alarcón, J.J. & García, C. & Nicolás, E., 2018. "Comparing the impacts of drip irrigation by freshwater and reclaimed wastewater on the soil microbial community of two citrus species," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 53-62.
    11. Paulina Aldunce & Dámare Araya & Rodolfo Sapiain & Issa Ramos & Gloria Lillo & Anahí Urquiza & René Garreaud, 2017. "Local Perception of Drought Impacts in a Changing Climate: The Mega-Drought in Central Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    12. Daniela Salite, 2019. "Traditional prediction of drought under weather and climate uncertainty: analyzing the challenges and opportunities for small-scale farmers in Gaza province, southern region of Mozambique," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 96(3), pages 1289-1309, April.
    13. Gómez-Limón, José A., 2020. "Hydrological drought insurance for irrigated agriculture in southern Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    14. Maestre-Valero, J.F. & Martin-Gorriz, B. & Nicolas, E. & Martinez-Mate, M.A. & Martinez-Alvarez, V., 2018. "Deficit irrigation with reclaimed water in a citrus orchard. Energy and greenhouse-gas emissions analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 93-102.
    15. Leitão, Maria Eugénia & Amaral, Miguel & Carvalho, Ana, 2024. "Reconceptualizing socio-tech entrepreneurship: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    16. Paulina Aldunce & Fernanda Haverbeck & Rodolfo Sapiains & Antonio Quilaqueo & Carmen Paz Castro, 2024. "Public Perception of Drought and Extreme Rainfall Impacts in a Changing Climate: Aconcagua Valley and Chañaral, Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-20, September.
    17. Shome, Samik & Hassan, M. Kabir & Verma, Sushma & Panigrahi, Tushar Ranjan, 2023. "Impact investment for sustainable development: A bibliometric analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 770-800.
    18. Ana Iglesias & David Santillán & Luis Garrote, 2018. "On the Barriers to Adaption to Less Water under Climate Change: Policy Choices in Mediterranean Countries," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(15), pages 4819-4832, December.
    19. Azwihangwisi E. Nesamvuni & Khathutshelo A. Tshikolomo & Ndivhudzannyi S. Mpandeli & Melanie de Bruyn & Samkelisiwe Hlophe-Ginindza & Johan van Niekerk, 2022. "Perceptions on irrigation water supply and utilisation by smallholder agricultural enterprises in Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 27(1), pages 968-979, January.
    20. Trin Thananusak, 2019. "Science Mapping of the Knowledge Base on Sustainable Entrepreneurship, 1996–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-20, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:5:p:2473-:d:505532. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.