Las regiones semiáridas tienen problemas de escasez de agua, agravados por la contaminación. Este libro recoge experiencias de expertos en el dominio de la gestión de las aguas en regiones áridas y semiáridas, con ejemplos sobre Libia o el SW de Estados Unidos. Se analizan la problemática almeriense y el ejemplo paradigmático del abastecimiento a Murcia. La simulación numérica de la contaminación de acuíferos, o un interesante enfoque del agua en la minería, completan una obra de consulta obligada para los especialistas.

A bacia do Rio dos Sinos, teve um crescimento contínuo de assentamentos humanos e, sobretudo no último século, a pressão antrópica modificou a paisagem, passando de Mata Atlântica para terras agropecuárias, indústrias, cidades e uma grande rede de rodovias. Isto erodiu o ecossistema da bacia com poluição das águas superficiais e subterrâneas, com a perda de biodiversidade e uma diminuição na variabilidade genética das populações, o que também trouxe um efeito negativo sobre a sociedade.

Integrated water resources management advocates a coordinated approach for managing water resources in a way that balances social and economic needs with concern for the environment. While potentially useful, integrated water management is also controversial. Supporters believe that the multi-dimensional nature of water can only be understood and m

This book offers a detailed examination of the main sources of Chile’s water, its principle consumers, the gap between supply and demand, hydrological droughts, and future projected impacts of climate change. It describes, analyzes and evaluates the performance of water policies, laws and institutions, identifies the main challenges that Chile needs to face and derives lessons learnt from Chile’s reform experience. Expert contributors discuss such topics as Chile’s water policy, and the reasoning which explains its policy reform. The book presents and evaluates the performance of the legal and institutional framework of water resources. It also describes efforts to meet actual demands for water by augmenting supplies with groundwater management, waste water re-use and desalination and improve the state of water ecosystems. The last chapter presents the editor’s assessment and conclusions. The case of Chile is illustrative of a transition from command and control to market based management policies, where economic incentives play a significant role in water management.