North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
Forest loss to farms and cities linked to declining drinking water quality
A new study from North Carolina State University researchers finds that the conversion of forests to urban development or agriculture near streams can have harmful effects on water quality downstream, presenting both health concerns and raising the cost of water treatment. Using a model called the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, researchers mapped out the current […]
New model uses satellite imagery, machine learning to map flooding in urban environments
As climate change causes storms to intensify, new tools are needed to map where flooding occurs in under-studied areas. A new mapping tool from North Carolina State University uses machine learning and open-source satellite imagery to model flooding in urban environments. The new model could create maps that predict urban area flooding, which traditionally have not been […]
‘Sunny day flooding’ increases fecal contamination of coastal waters
A new study finds that "sunny day flooding," which occurs during high tides, increases the levels of fecal bacteria in coastal waters. While the elevated bacteria levels in the coastal waters tend to dissipate quickly, the findings suggest policymakers and public health officials should be aware of potential risks associated with tidal flooding. "Historically we […]
New tools capture economic benefit of restoring urban streams
An interdisciplinary team of researchers has developed a suite of tools to estimate the total economic value of improving water quality in urban streams. The work can assist federal and state agencies charged with developing environmental regulations affecting urban ecosystems across the Piedmont Region of the United States, which stretches from Maryland to Alabama. “Urban […]
Tribal water rights underutilized in US West, finds study
A new North Carolina State University study shows that Indigenous groups in the western United States are—for various reasons—having difficulty turning water they have a legal right to, underwater rights settlements, into actual water that can generate revenue through leases to other groups or through direct uses such as agriculture. Western tribal water rights are a […]
Drought, heat waves found to worsen West Coast air pollution inequality
A new study led by North Carolina State University researchers found drought and heat waves could make air pollution worse for communities that already have a high pollution burden in California, and deepen pollution inequalities along racial and ethnic lines. Published in Nature Communications, the study also found financial penalties for power plants can significantly reduce people's pollution exposure, except […]
Forests can help manage water amid development, climate change
In areas near Raleigh projected to see heavier future development, keeping buffers of trees or other greenery around waterways could help slow rushing streams during wet conditions, and keep them flowing during dry ones. However, North Carolina State University researchers behind a recent study warned these so-called "riparian buffers" would not be a magic bullet […]
During droughts, thirstier mountain forests could mean less water downstream
Using data gathered by satellite, North Carolina State University researchers found that higher elevation forests in the Blue Ridge Mountains are often maintaining, and sometimes even increasing, their water use during extreme droughts. Published in the journal Landscape Ecology, the findings suggest upstream forests' increased water consumption could leave less water downstream for forests, cities and […]
Irrigation, water management play key roles in smoothing drought impacts
A new study examining more than 100 years of agricultural production and weather data in the United States suggests stored water plays an important role in providing resilience to drought. The findings also suggest water management strategies, which differ across the U.S., play a key role in how different areas of the country respond to […]