Water saving and management

Global population growth, changes in industrial structure, climate change, and water pollution present significant challenges to the sustainable development of freshwater resources. According to the UN World Water Development Report (Loudière & Gourbesville 2020) forecast, there is a projected 40% decrease in freshwater resources by 2030, while water demand is expected to increase by 20–30% by 2050. In light of these circumstances, water conservation and efficient management have emerged as crucial areas of research. The integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, new materials, and biotechnology into the water treatment industry has facilitated greener and smarter approaches toward water-saving technology and resource management.

Ana Clara da Rosa Santos (Ireland) proposes essential steps for determining the total cost of water at industrial facilities that encompass considerations related to supply and demand costs, opportunities, and strategies while promoting energy systems thinking. This approach offers an internationally replicable solution for calculating the true cost of water (da Rosa Santos & McCormack 2022). Mugdha Trivedi (India) develops an efficient method for optimizing reservoir operation (Trivedi & Shrivastava 2023). Jaya Gangwar (India) devises a sustainable, affordable, and cost-effective technique utilizing leaf extracts from Strobilanthes barbatus to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles. These nanoparticles serve as potential catalysts for degrading textile dyes before their release into aquatic environments (Gangwar et al. 2023). Amos Iloabuchi Ugwuoti (Nigeria) demonstrates how geospatial technologies including Remote Sensing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Hydrographic Surveying, and Geophysical Surveying can be employed in designing efficient urban water distribution networks within undulating terrains (Ugwuoti et al. 2023). Mohaddeseh Dadras (Iran) employs the EPANET pressure-dependent hydraulic analysis and the gray wolf optimization algorithm to optimize volumetric reliability in a district of the Hamedan urban water distribution network, aiming to mitigate inequitable water distribution during intermittent supply scenarios (Dadras et al. 2023).

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the authors for their exceptional papers, which we firmly believe have enriched our scientific knowledge in the field of Water Saving and Management. Additionally, we extend our deepest appreciation to the reviewers and IWA Publishing staff whose contributions were instrumental in making this special issue a resounding success.