The Water Paradox

The Water Paradox
Author: Ed Barbier
Publisher: Yale University Press
Total Pages: 295
Release: 2019-02-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0300240570

A radical new approach to tackling the growing threat of water scarcity Water is essential to life, yet humankind’s relationship with water is complex. For millennia, we have perceived it as abundant and easily accessible. But water shortages are fast becoming a persistent reality for all nations, rich and poor. With demand outstripping supply, a global water crisis is imminent. In this trenchant critique of current water policies and practices, Edward Barbier argues that our water crisis is as much a failure of water management as it is a result of scarcity. Outdated governance structures and institutions, combined with continual underpricing, have perpetuated the overuse and undervaluation of water and disincentivized much-needed technological innovation. As a result “water grabbing” is on the rise, and cooperation to resolve these disputes is increasingly fraught. Barbier draws on evidence from countries across the globe to show the scale of the problem, and outlines the policy and management solutions needed to avert this crisis.

Coping with Water Scarcity

Coping with Water Scarcity
Author: Luis Santos Pereira
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2009-03-22
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1402095791

One of the main problems confronting the world of the 21st Century is a shortage of water. There is already severe scarcity in many regions of the world, causing tremendous problems for local populations and indeed entire societies. There is insufficient water available for the production of food to alleviate poverty and starvation; the lack of water hampers industrial, urban and tourism development, forcing restrictions on other sectors, especially agriculture; health problems arise as the deterioration of ground and surface waters favours water-borne diseases, which flourish in the absence of decent water distribution and sewerage systems. Water conflicts still arise in areas under stress, while water for nature has become a vanishing priority in such zones. This book is a guide to the establishment of regional and/or local guidelines for developing and implementing new ideas for coping with water scarcity. The basic premise underlying the book is that water scarcity will persist, so personal, human and society-wide skills will be needed to cope with it while living in harmony with the necessary environmental constraints. The book provides basic information to assist decision makers, water managers, engineers, agronomists, social scientists and other professions (and their students) in formulating coherent, hopefully harmonious and consolidated views on the issue. Guidelines are also given for introducing the general public to the concept of water scarcity and how to deal with it.

Handbook of Drought and Water Scarcity

Handbook of Drought and Water Scarcity
Author: Saeid Eslamian
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 761
Release: 2017-07-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1351851160

This volume includes over 30 chapters, written by experts from around the world. It examines the environmental aspects of drought such as groundwater and soil contamination, river low-flow, urban water quality, and desertification. It also examines the effects of climate change and variability on drought, and discusses the differences in groundwater, rainfall, and temperatures and their related effects. It presents analytical modeling for better understanding drought in uncertain and changing climates.

Water Supply and Water Scarcity

Water Supply and Water Scarcity
Author: Vasileios A. Tzanakakis
Publisher: MDPI
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2020-11-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3039433067

This Book includes selected papers that has been published in the Water journal Special Issue (SI) on Water Supply and Water Scarcity. Moreover, an overview of the SI is included. The papers selected for publication in the SI include review and research papers on water history, on water management issues under water scarcity regimes, on rainwater harvesting, on water quality and degradation, and on climatic variability impacts on water resources. Overall, the issue identify and highlight the main challenges in water sector, and particularly in management and protection of water resources and in use of alternative (non-conventional) water resources, especially in areas with demographic change and climate vulnerability in order to achieve sustainable and secure water supply. Furthermore, general guidelines and possible solutions for an improved and sophisticated water management system are proposed and discussed, such as the adoption of advanced technological solutions and practices that improve water-use efficiency and the use of alternative water resources, to address the growing environmental and health issues and to reduce the emerging conflicts among water users.

Water Scarcity and Ways to Reduce the Impact

Water Scarcity and Ways to Reduce the Impact
Author: Muthu Pannirselvam
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2018-05-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319751999

Because water access, distribution and quality are the most urgent challenges for societies across the world, this book focuses on the current and future demands and challenges in the areas of water scarcity we may face and possible solutions in terms of technology and management including infrastructure changes that are needed for the future smart cities. Readers of this book shall gain an increased understanding of water supply and its demands and shall learn some of the research trends to overcome global water scarcity and urban growth by creating smart cities.

Out of Water

Out of Water
Author: Colin Chartres
Publisher: FT Press
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2010-07-14
Genre: History
ISBN: 0132181045

From cities to biofuels, competition for water is accelerating. Climate change threatens to intensify the onset and severity of the water crisis in several regions of the developing world: this is already happening throughout much of Asia, the Mediterranean, southwestern Australia, and the southwestern US. Along with water shortages, unsafe water becomes an increasingly widespread problem, too. As water crises trigger food and health crises, billions may slip further into poverty, leading to greater social and political unrest, new wars, and worsening national security. Out of Water doesn't just illuminate the coming global water crisis: it presents innovative solutions in agriculture, engineering, governance, and beyond, including state-of-the art techniques for integrated water management. This book will help raise the level of debate about water to the highest levels of government, and identify workable reforms and incentives to help water users utilize this crucial resource far more efficiently.

Water Scarcity and Sustainable Agriculture in Semiarid Environment

Water Scarcity and Sustainable Agriculture in Semiarid Environment
Author: Ivan Francisco Garcia Tejero
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 586
Release: 2018-01-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128131659

Water Scarcity and Sustainable Agriculture in Semiarid Environment: Tools, Strategies and Challenges for Woody Crops explores the complex relationship between water scarcity and climate change, agricultural water-use efficiency, crop-water stress management and modeling water scarcity in woody crops. Understanding these cause- and effect relationships and identifying the most appropriate responses are critical for sustainable crop production. The book focuses on Mediterranean environments to explain how to determine the most appropriate strategy and implement an effective plan; however, core concepts are translational to other regions. Informative for those working in agricultural water management, irrigation and drainage, crop physiology and sustainable agriculture. - Focuses on semi-arid crops including olive, vine, citrus, almonds, peach, nectarine, plum, subtropical fruits and others - Explores crop physiological responses to drought at plant, cellular and/or molecular levels - Presents tool options for assessing crop-water status and irrigation scheduling

Uncharted Waters

Uncharted Waters
Author: Richard Damania
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 83
Release: 2017
Genre: Droughts
ISBN: 9781464811791

Uncharted Waters: The New Economics of Water Scarcity

Beyond Scarcity

Beyond Scarcity
Author: World Bank
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 211
Release: 2017-12-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464811814

Water has always been a source of risks and opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. Yet rapidly changing socioeconomic, political, and environmental conditions make water security a different, and more urgent, challenge than ever before. This report shows that achieving water security means much more than coping with water scarcity. It means managing water resources in a sustainable, efficient, and equitable way. It also involves delivering water services reliably and affordably, to reinforce relationships between service providers and water users and contribute to a renewed social contract. Water security also entails mitigating water-related risks such as floods and droughts. Water security is an urgent target, but it is also a target within reach. A host of potential solutions to the region’s water management challenges exist. To make these solutions work, clear incentives are needed to change the way water is managed, conserved, and allocated. To make these solutions work, countries in the region will also need to better engage water users, civil society, and youth. The failure of policies to address water challenges can have severe impacts on people’s well-being and political stability. The strategic question for the region is whether countries will act with foresight and resolve to strengthen water security, or whether they will wait to react to the inevitable disruptions of water crises.