Also available in Arabic, French, and Spanish:Arabic: Stock No. 12639 (ISBN 0-8213-2637-2) / Price code 006French: Gestion des ressources en eau. La Banque mondiale. Document de politique generale de la Banque mondiale / Stock No. 12637 (ISBN 0-8213-2637-6) / $6.95 / Price code 006Spanish: La ordenacion de los recursos hidricos. El Banco Mundial. Documento de poljtica del Banco Mundial / Stock No. 12638 (ISBN 0-8213-2638-4) / $6.95 / Price code 006All editions: $6.95 / Price code 006.This study examines new World Bank policies that deal with scarce water resources in developing countries. It provides a framework to help governments design effective water management programs.Countries can tailor the framework to suit their needs. The study describes key policy goals that each country program should adopt. It discusses ways to make industry control pollution and conserve water. It suggests means of making water more accessible and sewage collection and treatment more efficient.Practical ways to modernize irrigation techniques and hydropower systems, to protect ecosystems, minimize resettlement, and maintain biodiversity are outlined. Low-cost methods of providing drinking water for the rural poor and water for industry and agriculture are recommended.The study also recommends institutional and regulatory reforms that use incentives to promote more efficient water use and services, employ new water conservation technology, and let communities join in water management.The study describes the conditions that would affect World Bank lending to individual countries. It reviews the water management problems that would get urgent consideration. It also examines how Bank support is affected by a country's commitment to sound water management.