This paper proposes a methodological approach to the re-use of reservoir sediments for coastal nourishment. The proposed approach represents a point of convergence between water and sediment management, coastal protection from erosion and the re-use of sediments dredged from reservoirs. In particular, this study indicates a general protocol of actions and a reference legislative scenario for the use of sediment from reservoirs for beach nourishment as an alternative to sediment from sea caves or land caves. Quantitative characterization of reservoir sediments and their qualitative characterization are the fundamental steps to define the compatibility between reservoir sediment and beach sand. The study was applied to a real case of Southern Italy known as the Guardialfiera Reservoir.

Greenhouse gas emission is one of the main environmental issues of today, and energy savings in all industries contribute to reducing energy demand, implying, in turn, less carbon emissions into the atmosphere. In this framework, water pumping systems are one of the most energy-consuming activities. The optimal regulation of pumping systems with the use of variable speed drives is gaining the attention of designers and managing authorities. However, optimal management and operation of pumping systems is often performed, employing variable speed drives without considering if the energy savings are enough to justify their purchasing and installation costs. In this paper, the authors compare two optimal pump scheduling techniques, optimal regulation of constant speed pumps by an optimal ON/OFF sequence and optimal regulation with a variable speed pump. Much of the attention is devoted to the analysis of the costs involved in a hypothetical managing authority for the water distribution system in order to determine whether the savings in operating costs is enough to justify the employment of variable speed drives.