Water

Water is our planet's most precious resource. It is requiredby every living thing, yet a huge proportion of the world'spopulation struggles to access clean water daily. Agriculture,aquaculture, industry, and energy all depend on it - yet itsprovision and safety engender widespread conflict; battles likelyto intensify as threats to freshwater abundance and quality, suchas climate change, urbanization, new forms of pollution, and theprivatization of control, continue to grow.
But must the cost of potable water become prohibitively expensivefor the poor - especially when supplies are privatized? Dotechnological advances only expand supply or can they carry hiddenrisks for minority groups? And who bears responsibility formanaging the adverse impacts of dams funded by global aidorganizations when their burdens fall on some, while their benefitsaccrue to others? In answering these and other pressing questions,the book shows how control of freshwater operates at differentlevels, from individual watersheds near cities to large riverbasins whose water - when diverted - is contested by entirecountries. Drawing on a rich range of examples from across theworld, it explores the complexity of future challenges, concludingthat nations must work together to embrace everyone's water needswhile also establishing fair, consistent criteria to promoteavailable supply with less pollution.