Centralized, top-down management of water resources through regulations has created unnecessary economic burdens upon users. More flexible decentralized controls through the use of economic incentives have gained acceptance over the past decade. The theme of this book is the increasing efforts throughout water-scarce regions to rely upon economic incentives and decentralized mechanisms for efficient water management and allocation. The book begins with a section of introductory chapters describing water systems, institutions, constraints, and similarities in the following regions: Israel and the Middle East, Turkey, California, Florida, and Australia. Four of these regions face similar climates with wet winters and dry summers. Florida has a more even seasonal distribution of rainfall, yet it uses similar management strategies in controlling groundwater demand and water quality. The book concludes with a section on water management case studies. These case studies examine issues of conflict related to both water quality and water quantity. While the case studies address both international and intranational concerns in specific regions of the world, they portray broad principles that are applicable to many regions.

This unique volume focuses on Egypt’s conventional water resources and the main water consumer: Egypt’s agriculture. It provides an up-to-date overview and the latest research findings, and covers the following main topics: · History of irrigation and irrigation projects · Key features of agriculture, the administrative and legal framework in Egypt · Land resources for agriculture development · Food insecurity due to water shortages and climate change; resulting challenges and opportunities · Assessment of water resources for irrigation and drinking purposes · Impacts of upstream dams, such as the GERD and Tekeze Dam, on Egypt’s water resources and crop yield · Sustainable use of water resources and the future of mega irrigation projects · Quantity and quality of water in Egypt’s water resources bank This book and the companion volume Unconventional Water Resources and Agriculture in Egypt offer invaluable reference guides for postgraduates, researchers, professionals, environmental managers and policymakers interested in water resources and their management worldwide.

Private sector involvement and user participation in water resource management, if properly structured, can provide incentives needed to stabilize and improve the efficiency of irrigation and water supply systems. Cost recovery is excellent in many projects in which water management and operations and maintenance are entrusted to water users.

This publication of the Netherlands National ICID Committee is significantly larger than the previous three editions. This is due to many new developments that have taken place in the Netherlands during the past ten years

This unique volume presents up-to-date information and the latest research findings on unconventional water resources in Egypt and their connections to agriculture. It investigates how to cope with the severe shortage of water and how to improve the irrigation system’s efficiency. The main aspects addressed include: · History of drainage and drainage projects in Egypt · Towards the integration of irrigation and drainage water · Assessment of drainage systems and environmental impact assessment of irrigation projects · Maximizing the reuse of agricultural drainage water and agricultural waste to improve irrigation efficiency · Developing alternative water resources, such as desalination, for greenhouses · Drainage water quality assessment, microbial hazards and improvement of green and cost-effective technologies for treatment of agricultural drainage water and wastewater for reuse in irrigation · Towards the sustainable reuse of water resources in Egypt · Options for securing water resources in Egypt, and challenges and opportunities for policy planners This book and the companion volume Conventional Water Resources and Agriculture in Egypt are vital resources for researchers, environmental managers and water policy planners – and for all those seeking information on wastewater reuse, green and cost-effective technologies for improving water quality.