From water research to
water management
CETA
Prof. Dr. Alicia Fernández Cirelli
Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (CONICET-UBA)
Centro de Estudios Transdisciplinarios del Agua (FVET-UBA)
Universidad de Buenos Aires
¿Why do we speak of water
scarcity?
WORLD WATER AVAILABILITY
Source: UNESCO
Water quality affects health and
also the quantity and quality of
food.
The transfer of micropollutants
such as heavy metals and
persistent organic compounds like
many pesticides from the
environmental matrices to food
chain, compromises food security.
IMPORTANCE
Trends in Water Quality Research
Fecal
Contamination
Nutrients
Metales
Pesados
Organic
Matter
Persistent
Organic
Pollutants
TIME
Trends in water research
•Health risks of water and wastewater
treatment
•Chemical compounds affecting health.
•Emergent pathogens
•Pollutants: from water to food
•Overexploitation of water sources
•Water quality and ecosystem health
•Climate change
•Legal and economical instruments
Studies on presence of
Organic and
Inorganic
Contaminants
20000
18000
Pb
16000
Hg
14000
12000
Cr
10000
Cd
8000
As
6000
Pesticides
4000
Pharmaceutical
2000
Organic
Science Citation Index (SCI)
0
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
12000
10000
8000
Organic
6000
Inorganic
4000
2000
0
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
25000
Pb
20000
Hg
Cr
15000
Cd
10000
As
Pesticides
5000
Studies on removal of
organic and inorganic
contaminants
Pharmaceutical
Organic
0
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Science Citation Index (SCI)
12000
10000
8000
Organic
6000
Inorganic
4000
2000
0
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Challenges for water management
Suitable water sources in quantity and quality
Water treatment
Safe water distribution
Wastewater treatment and disposal
¿What do we need to put in common the
results of research with the requirements in
management?
Information and communication
technologies are basic to improve water
management
Thank you very much for your attention!
CETA
Prof. Dr. Alicia Fernández Cirelli
Instituto de Investigaciones de la
Universidad de Buenos Aires