Futures Studies Economics Ecology

Water Resources

An Integrated Approach

by Joseph Holden Review by David Lorimer, August 2014

Published: 2014
Publisher: Routledge
Format: Paperback
Pages: 371
ISBN: 9780429827211

Publisher’s description

Now in its second edition, Water Resources: An Integrated Approach provides students with a comprehensive overview of natural processes associated with water and the modifications of these processes by humans through climate change and land management, water-related health issues, engineering approaches to water and socio-economic processes of huge importance to water resources. The book contains chapters written by 24 specialist contributors, providing expert depth of coverage to topics. The text introduces the basic properties of water and its importance to society and the nature of the different regional imbalances between water resource availability and demand. It guides the reader through the changing water cycle impacted by climate and land management, water flows in river basins, surface water quality, groundwater and aquatic ecosystems, and covers the role of water in human health and associated hazards before turning to engineering solutions to water and wastewater treatment and reuse. The book deals with physical and social management strategies required for water resource planning, the economics of water and treatment of issues associated with conflict over water. The concept of virtual water is covered before the text concludes with a chapter considering the challenges of predicting future water issues in a rapidly changing world and where environmental systems can behave in a non-linear way. The need to work across disciplines to address challenges that are connected at both local and global scales is highlighted. Water Resources also includes global examples from both the developing and developed world. There are 58 case study boxes. Each chapter is supplemented with these case studies and with reflective questions, project ideas and further reading, as well as links to a glossary of terms. The book is richly illustrated throughout with over 160 full-colour diagrams and photographs. The text provides a novel interdisciplinary approach to water in a changing world, from an environmental change perspective and interrelated social, political and economic dimensions. It will be an indispensable guide to undergraduates studying water resources and management, geography of water, and water in the environment.

Written as a textbook for students, this is an excellent interdisciplinary reference work on all aspects water and its management. A summary of contents gives a good idea of its scope: water fundamentals, the changing water cycle, river basin hydrology, surface water quality, groundwater, aquatic ecosystems, water demand planning and management, water and health, potable water and wastewater treatment, water economics, water conflict, law and governance, and the future of water in terms of water footprints and virtual water. There are extensive tables, figures and boxes together with learning outcomes and reflective questions. Some of the boxes highlight crucial economic and political issues, such as the trends in India with an anticipated 1.6 billion population by 2050. Another key issue is irrigation in relation to food security. Then there is the question of long-term nitrate trends in rivers with accompanying dead zones at the mouth. Groundwater is also very important, especially since 22% of the world's population rely solely on it and 10% of this consumption is unsustainable, leading to rapid drops in water tables and the potential for conflict over water resources. Virtual water and water footprints provide an analysis whereby we can calculate how much water our lifestyle entails and take steps towards reducing our footprint. In short, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of water.

Related to this book