MACMILLAN Integrated Water Resource Management: An Interdisciplinary Approach

This book addresses the enormous global challenge of providing balanced and sustainable solutions to urgent water problems. The author explores our dependence on access to safe water and other water-related services and how driving forces of the human and natural worlds are degrading this access. The greatest challenges involve conflicts between people and interest groups across all countries, as well as the economic and political difficulties in finding solutions through infrastructure development. The book takes an interdisciplinary approach to Integrated Water Resources Management or IWRM, which provides a set of tools for policy development, planning and organization, assessment, systems analysis, finance, and regulation. The author suggests that IWRM is challenging because of the human element, but that no other process can reconcile the conflicting agendas involved with water management. The broad range of topics covered here, as well as 25 case summaries, will be of interest to scientists, engineers, practitioners, and advanced level students interested in the integrated management of water as a resource. Review “Neil Grigg does it again! Brilliantly written, this book provides a masterful and much-needed interdisciplinary and integrated perspective on water resources management. Comprehensive and authoritative, each of the chapters is a gem, and together they offer a standalone text for educators and students, and an invaluable resource for practitioners and policy-makers. This book is essential and quintessential.” (Anne Steinemann, Professor, The University of Melbourne, Australia) “In this excellent book, Professor Neil S. Grigg, a world-class expert on water infrastructure, argues in favour of “science-to-practice” approach to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). He reminds us that water supply is the highest priority service and that the lack of safe drinking water is the most pressing water issue globally. Water managers can promote good water governance by effective management practices and proper relationships among stakeholders. Integration begins when water and wastewater are operated as one utility. The management of water systems requires sound decisions, while public involvement is also essential. Water resources and services are parts of social systems that extend beyond technology, requiring a balance between competing social and political views. Although access to water is a basic human right, paying for services is also essential. Furthermore, water acts as a connector for security; for food production, environment, economy, and health.” (Tapio S. Katko, UNESCO Chairholder, Adjunct Professor, Tampere University of Technology, Finland) From the Back Cover This book addresses the enormous global challenge of providing balanced and sustainable solutions to urgent water problems. The author explores our dependence on access to safe water and other water-related services and how driving forces of the human and natural worlds are degrading this access. The greatest challenges involve conflicts between people and interest groups across all countries, as well as the economic and political difficulties in finding solutions through infrastructure development. The book takes an interdisciplinary approach to Integrated Water Resources Management or IWRM, which provides a set of tools for policy development, planning and organization, assessment, systems analysis, finance, and regulation. The author suggests that IWRM is challenging because of the human element, but that no other process can reconcile the conflicting agendas involved with water management. The broad range of topics covered here, as well as 25 case summaries, will be of interest to scientists, engineers, practitioners, and advanced level students interested in the integrated management of water as a resource. Neil S. Grigg is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colora