The world faces huge challenges for water as population continues to grow, as emerging economies develop and as climate change alters the global and local water cycle. There are major questions to be answered about how we supply water in a sustainable and safe manner to fulfil our needs, while at the same time protecting vulnerable ecosystems from disaster. Water Resources: An Integrated Approach provides students with a comprehensive overview of both natural and socio-economic processes associated with water. The book contains chapters written by 20 specialist contributors, providing expert depth of coverage to topics. The text guides the reader through the topic of water starting with its unique properties and moving through environmental processes and human impacts upon them including the changing water cycle, water movement in river basins, water quality, groundwater and aquatic ecosystems. The book then covers management strategies for water resources, water treatment and re-use, and the role of water in human health before covering water economics and water conflict. The text concludes with a chapter that examines new concepts such as virtual water that help us understand current and future water resource use and availability across interconnected local and global scales. This book provides a novel interdisciplinary approach to water in a changing world, from an environmental change perspective and inter-related social, political and economic dimensions. It includes global examples from both the developing and developed world. Each chapter is supplemented with boxed case studies, end of chapter questions, and further reading, as well as a glossary of terms. The text is richly illustrated throughout with over 150 full colour diagrams and photos.

Supply of sufficient clean drinking water is often taken for granted, but it requires a considerable technical and financial effort to ensure reliable and economic water supply. This volume presents an up-to-date overview of water supply management and aims at efficient management of water supply schemes rather than design of new works. Various chapters of the book are devoted to water demands, management of reservoirs and conjunctive use of alternative sources. Asset management and loss control are also considered. Water quality and provision of water to developing communities are also discussed. Water supply management is of concern to developed urban environments as well as developing communities. The book will be equally valuable to the practising water engineer and the newcomer or graduate student in the subject.

Thoroughly updated and expanded new edition introduces students to the complex world of water resources and environmental issues.