The aim of this paper was to evaluate the groundwater pollution in an endoreic basin in southern Italy. The aquifer circulation was carried out on two different levels: a shallow groundwater, with a water table of about 10 m, and a deep groundwater in a karst aquifer, with a water table of 140–190 m. Reclaimed municipal wastewater and superficial water collected in the catchment area were both drained in a swallow hole linked with the deep groundwater. The agricultural practice conducted in the endoreic basin produced an excess of nitrate in the soil. Nitrate was subsequently washed out and displaced in the groundwater. With regard to the EU Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC), the research activity conducted during 2003 showed the absence of pollution in the deep groundwater used for drinking water supply. The shallow groundwater, instead, was strongly influenced by agricultural and pasture activities, with detectable levels of nitrates and bacteria. In order to reduce the load of pollution entering the swallow hole and then in the deep groundwater, the realisation of a constructed wetland plant was proposed to improve the quality of reclaimed wastewater, as well as to pursue the wastewater reuse in agriculture.

The aim of the present study is to define a simple (and easy to use) method to equalize the workload of personnel operating several small wastewater treatment plants (SWWTPs). The approach is illustrated through a case study which is the result of collaboration between researchers and a water and wastewater management company operating in Southern Italy. The topic is important since personnel have a significant impact on the operating costs of SWWTPs, and the approach outlined results in the minimum number of staff being required to assure the management of the service. Four kinds of work units are considered: plant managers, assistant plant managers, laboratory technicians and executives. In order to develop a practical, feasible and easy to use method, the workload was evaluated considering only the population equivalent (PE) and the number of plants managed. The core of the method is the evaluation of the percentage of time that the personnel units devote to the operation of SWWTPs of the municipality considered. The proposed procedure offers a useful tool to equalize the workload, both in terms of PE and the number of plants managed, the procedure being easily modifiable to introduce other evaluation criteria. By using familiar concepts such as PE and number of plants managed, the approach of the method can easily be understood by management. It can also be readily adapted to other similar situations. IntroductionDespite the importance of cost efficiency in wastewater treatment, to the best of our knowledge there have been few studies of this topic reported in the literature. Possible factors are difficulties in obtaining the required information and the shortage of researchers carrying out economic analysis of treatment processes [1].Managing wastewater treatment plants involves both operational and maintenance costs (O&M). The operational costs include personnel, energy (typically, electrical energy), fuel, chemicals and sludge disposal. Maintenance costs are usually divided into ordinary maintenance (cleaning of premises, grass and vegetation cutting, machinery greasing, periodic painting, etc.) and extraordinary maintenance costs (replacement of machinery or parts, fundamental interventions in areas of the plant, general reconstruction of masonry structures, etc.) [2][3][4].From a monetary point of view, the O&M costs are not related to the value of the investment involved (design and construction). However, considered from a technical point of view it becomes clear that operating costs are determined almost entirely by the type of plant and equipment used. Consequently, careful consideration must be given

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to illustrate why libraries should develop instructional plans to further integrate Web-scale discovery services into the academy, as well as propose a three-fold delivery plan to achieve this goal. Design/methodology/approach This paper documents a strategy to integrate Web-scale discovery services into library training and instruction for multiple audiences. The strategy is informed by past analysis of discovery service search queries. Findings It presents a three-part training plan that can be applied to multiple audiences, universities/colleges and even discovery service platforms. Practical implications The strategies and practices detailed in this paper are easily adaptable to other institutions that currently subscribe to Web-scale discovery service products. Originality/value This paper introduces an innovative approach toward transforming Web-scale discovery instruction across the academy, based on search query analysis.