Acknowledgments xii
About the Authors xiv
Foreword xvii
Preface xxi
Chapter 1 Not Another Crisis! 1
Why Is Water Important? 1
Some Water Facts 4
Chapter 2 From Abundance to Scarcity in 25 Years 15
The River Jordan 18
The South Asian Groundwater Phenomenon 25
The Murray-Darling Basin 30
The Colorado River 35
Lessons from History 40
Chapter 3 Causes of Water Scarcity 45
Introduction 45
Blue and Green Water 48
Causes of Water Scarcity 48
Population Growth Impact 50
Dietary Change 52
Biofuel Production 53
Urbanization, Globalization, and Other Factors 55
Climate Change Impact 56
Conclusion 57
Chapter 4 Climate Change and Water 59
What Are the Most Likely Impacts of Climate Change? 61
Climate Change Impacts in Asia 66
Climate Change Impacts in Australia 70
Does Water Have a Role in Mitigating Climate Change? 72
Adapting to Climate Change 73
Conclusion 75
Chapter 5 Agriculture and Water 77
Why Is Irrigation So Important? 92
Virtual Water and Water Footprints 95
How Can We Achieve More “Drop Per Drop”? 97
Urban Water Reuse for Agriculture 100
Conclusion 101
Chapter 6 Water, Food, and Poverty 103
The Big Picture–Farming and Poverty 105
Nature and Poverty 107
Irrigation and Poverty–Learning from Asia 109
Groundwater and Poverty 112
Women, Water, and Food 114
Water as Welfare 116
Conclusion 117
Chapter 7 Integrating Water Planning and Management 119
Integrated Water Resources Management 121
Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Developing World 122
What Happens to Our Waste? 126
Recycling and Reuse of Wastewater 128
Multiple Use Water Systems 133
Conclusion 135
Chapter 8 Water Governance for People and the Environment 139
Understanding Water’s Unique Properties 142
A New Blueprint 144
Going Local 146
The Farmers Will Do It for Themselves 148
The Participation Principle 150
Recognizing Informal Institutions–The Commons and Community Management 152
Rivers 153
Conclusion 155
Chapter 9 Water Rights and Water Costs 157
Water Allocation Mechanisms 159
South African Water Policy 160
Water Allocation and Pricing in the United States 162
The Murray-Darling Basin, Australia 166
The Situation in Other Countries 169
The Economics of Water 170
Lessons from Complexity? 176
Conclusion 178
Chapter 10 Solving the World’s Water Problems 183
1. If You Can’t Measure It, You Can’t Manage It 185
2. Treasure the Environment 187
3. Reform Water Governance 189
4. Revitalize Agricultural Water Use 192
5. Manage Urban and Industrial Demand 198
6. Empower the Poor and Women in Water Management 201
Conclusion 204
Endnotes 207
Chapter 1 207
Chapter 2 207
Chapter 3 209
Chapter 4 210
Chapter 5 211
Chapter 6 213
Chapter 7 214
Chapter 8 215
Chapter 9 216
Chapter 10 218
Index 221
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.
Colin Chartres, a world-renowned authority on water issues, is Director General of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). He has 35 years’ experience in R&D and policy areas related to water and natural resources, and served as Chief Science Advisor to the Australian National Water Commission. He has published more than 120 papers, book chapters, and reports on soil, water, and agricultural management issues.
Samyuktha Varma is Executive Officer to the DG/Communications Specialist at IWMI. She focuses on issues of water, equity, and poverty in developing countries, ensuring that women’s voices are heard in the development of water management solutions. A social scientist, her background has led to her work on issues ranging from human rights to urban governance.
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