Economical, Political, and Social Issues in Water Resources provides a fully comprehensive and interdisciplinary overview of all three factors in their relation to water resources. Economic issues consist of Water accounting, Water economy, Water pricing, Water market, Water bank and bourse. Political issues consist of Water power and hydrogemistry, Water diplomacy and hydropolitics, Water rights and water laws, Water governance and policy, Shared water resources management, Water management systems, and social issues consist of Water and culture, civilization and history, Water quality, hygiene, and health, Water and society. This book familiarizes researchers with all aspects of the field, which can lead to optimized and multidimensional water resources management. Some of abovementioned issues are new, so the other aim of this book is to identify them in order to researchers can easily find them and use them in their studies. Includes diverse case studies from around the world Presents contributions from global and diverse contributors with interdisciplinary backgrounds, including water engineers, scientists, planners the economic, political and social issues surrounding water Contains in-depth definitions and concepts of each topic

Water is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in many parts of the world. Population growth plus a growing appetite for larger quantities of cheap water quality as a result of urban, industrial, and agricultural pollution coupled with increasing environmental demands have further reduced usable suppliers. This book brings together thirty of the best economic articles addressing water scarcity issues within the US and Mexico. By touching on a number of different issues, this volume clearly articulates the need for improving existing institutional arrangements as well as for developing new arrangements to address growing water scarcity problems.

Provides an in-depth look at science, policy and management in the water sector across the globe Sustainable water management is an increasingly complex challenge and policy priority facing global society. This book examines how governments, municipalities, corporations, and individuals find sustainable water management pathways across competing priorities of water for ecosystems, food, energy, economic growth and human consumption. It looks at the current politics and economics behind the management of our freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure and offers insightful essays that help stimulate more intense and informed debate about the subject and its need for local and international cooperation. This book celebrates the 15-year anniversary of Oxford University’s MSc course in Water Science, Policy and Management. Edited and written by some of the leading minds in the field, writing alongside alumni from the course, Water Science, Policy and Management: A Global Challenge offers in-depth chapters in three parts: Science; Policy; and Management. Topics cover: hydroclimatic extremes and climate change; the past, present, and future of groundwater resources; water quality modelling, monitoring, and management; and challenges for freshwater ecosystems. The book presents critical views on the monitoring and modelling of hydrological processes; the rural water policy in Africa and Asia; the political economy of wastewater in Europe; drought policy management and water allocation. It also examines the financing of water infrastructure; the value of wastewater; water resource planning; sustainable urban water supply and the human right to water. Features perspectives from some of the world’s leading experts on water policy and management Identifies and addresses current and future water sector challenges Charts water policy trends across a rapidly evolving set of challenges in a variety of global areas Covers the reallocation of water; policy process of risk management; the future of the world’s water under global environmental change; and more Water Science, Policy and Management: A Global Challenge is an essential book for policy makers and government agencies involved in water management, and for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying water science, governance, and policy.

This textbook is written for first-year graduate students and senior level undergraduates in economics. . . Graduate students in geography, water resources, and environmental management should also be interested. The well done helpful diagrams and charts are those expected for a textbook in economics at this level. In every chapter many interesting real world examples illustrate the concept being discussed. Some chapters have easy to read case studies set off from the text. Every chapter has an excellent bibliography. I plan on keeping this excellent book as a shelf reference and would willingly adopt it for a class in Water Resource Economics. Donald E. Agthe, Journal of the American Water Resources Association This is a much-needed book, which introduces the interested reader to the economics of water resource allocation, and analyzes relevant policy issues derived from all over the world. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first book which is focused on communicating the basic economic concepts that govern water resources allocation. . . The lively writing style of W. Douglass Shaw, which is enriched with excellent examples and case studies from various countries, makes this book an obvious choice for a textbook in relevant courses. . . this excellent book should be a compulsory reading for all of us who work in the field of water resources management. Phoebe Koundouri, Ecological Economics A state-of-the-art and comprehensive review of water resource economics policy issues and research methods needed to address those issues. It can double as a text for classes in water economics as well as a source for researchers who need a state-of-the-art review of the literature. Frank A. Ward, New Mexico State University, US For years, I ve taught water economics and policy by piecing together readings from dozens of texts and articles. Now, I finally have one text that provides comprehensive coverage of water economics at a level both accessible to senior undergraduates while still sufficiently rigorous for graduate students. I cannot wait to use this text in my classes! Eric Schuck, Colorado State University, US W. Douglass Shaw s Water Resource Economics and Policy is a valuable and timely contribution. Those new to the subject of water resource economics will find a treatment that is both comprehensive and readable, suitable for undergraduate and selected graduate level classes. The book amply demonstrates the application of basic microeconomic principles to water issues and provides valuable in-depth discussion of water quality, and of urban, agricultural, environmental and recreational water use. The economics of risk and uncertainty are clearly presented in the context of drought, flood control and water supply and demand. These are key themes in this field that can be difficult to communicate to undergraduates. This text will be invaluable in teaching water resource economics. Bonnie Colby, University of Arizona, US Douglass Shaw s Water Resource Economics and Policy is a timely and useful offering, filling an important void in MS and post bac texts. The beginning chapters provide background in legal and economic theory considerations. Each is followed up in the book with specific regulatory and institutional examples as well as citations and explanations of empirical work in water resources economics. Topics in agricultural and residential water use, as well as reservoir impoundments and trans-boundary water issues, yield useful concepts for a wide range of students. The text serves as a very essential framework with which supplementary readings can be added. The organization of the book is sensible; it provides a means by which a greater body of materials may be arranged. The course I currently teach contains students from a diverse set of academic fields. The text materials are eminently accessible for all of these students. I highly recommend this to be an indispensable source book for water resource e

A concise treatment of water-resource economics. Based upon political economy perspectives, it draws upon a range of case-studies - Third- World, developed world, and former communist countries - to cover many issues. There is guidance on

The Middle East is a region of international concern and political unrest. This book forms a complete reference to both the hydrological as well as the social, economic, political and legal issues in the region and shows how water shortages threaten the renewal of military conflicts and disruption in the area. With resources over-extended due to natural and human causes, the book analyses the river basins of the Euphrates, Tigris, Nile and Jordan and provides detailed study of the hydrology, hydrography and geography of these river basins; it also analyses the needs of the economies and societies of the countries bordering these basins. Conclusions on likely areas of conflict are set within the legal framework of the Helsinki and International Law Commission Rules.

This book explores the interface between environmental and social elements of water pricing policies in OECD countries. It focuses on the affordability of water services, as well as on the social measures aimed at resolving these affordability problems.