Softbound - New, softbound print book.

Water plays a key role in addressing the most pressing global challenges of our time, including climate change adaptation, food and energy security, environmental sustainability and the promotion of peace and stability. This comprehensive handbook explores the pivotal place of law and policy in efforts to ensure that water enables positive responses to these challenges and provides a basis for sound governance. The book reveals that significant progress has been made in recent decades to strengthen the governance of water resource management at different scales, including helping to address international and sub-national conflicts over transboundary water resources. It demonstrates that ‘effective’ laws and policies are fundamental drivers for the safe, equitable and sustainable utilization of water. However, it is also shown that what might constitute an effective law or policy related to water resources management is still hotly debated. As such, the handbook provides an important and definitive reference text for all studying water governance and management.

A multidisciplinary text, considering both general issues and principles of water law and administration at national and international level, dealing with current legal and institutional aspects of water resources management. New information has been added in this latest edition, including the situation in countries previously a part of the former Soviet Union. Added emphasis is given to areas of growing topical importance, such as stakeholders' influence on decisions, the need to maintain a minimum flow in water bodies and the necessity for legislation in support of water resource monitoring. There is new material on the European Union Water Framework Directive which is referenced heavily in the work. The book is aimed at those who carry out functions in water resources administration and those who deal with legal issues raised by water management. The book will be particularly useful to academics and graduate students of law, engineering, hydrology, hydrogeology, sanitary engineering and planners, as well as national and international water resources managers.

Provides a clearly presented overview of the law's provisions and pertient regulation and enforcement issues.

Dealing with critical issues of ownership, control and use of water as a resource, AUSTRALIAN WATER LAW offers practical and up-to-date guidance in an increasingly important area. Interconnected with property law and environmental law, water poses special regulatory challenges because of its character and potential; it also poses opportunities for disputes and litigation. A complex web of state and federal legislation seeks to manage and protect water and water rights, challenging practitioners who are advising on matters like access rights, statutory water entitlements, water planning and resource protection. Commercially, water law affects a widening range of infrastructure development and management projects, while the development of a national water market offers opportunities in trading of water rights, and risks and controls. Kate Stoeckel, Romany Webb and Luke Woodward bring to bear their considerable legal experience in matters involving water rights as well as regulation of the water and sewerage industry and Amy Hankinson offers her significant expertise in environmental law and water management.

This volume of the Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law provides thorough and detailed coverage of the changing meanings and roles of water law, from the local to the global. It examines the rules of ownership, rights of use, and dispute resolution that address access, allocation, and protection of water resources. Written by leading scholars and practitioners from across the globe, the volume is organised into thematic parts, beginning with an overview of fundamental concepts in water law, as well as pervasive issues such as the interplay of water law, governance and politics, and the water-energy nexus. Entries then discuss topics in international, regional, and national water law, before exploring broader questions about the intersections between water law and areas such as development, infrastructure, and indigenous rights. The volume also offers insights into potential future directions of water law and governance in response to the increasingly pressing ecological issues. This authoritative volume will be a vital resource for all scholars and students of environmental law. Practitioners, policy makers and water managers will also find its accessible discussion of complex topics in water law particularly beneficial.