The aim of this report is to help improve the quality of the knowledge on the state of the world's water resources. In order to provide a basis for discussing the issues, FAO's Aquastat programme compiles existing quantitative and qualitative information on water resources, water use and irrigation by country. This report focuses on the work done through the Aquastat surveys to collect and analyse available information on water resources for all countries in the world. The report presents the concepts and methodology applied in order to compute country-level water resources data. It presents and analyses the key findings at both global and regional levels. It also discusses the limitations of the approach and the information gaps that remain.

This paper focuses on how to improve the development and management of water resources while providing the principles that link resource management to the specific water-using sectors. In 1993 the Board of the World Bank endorsed a Water Resources Management Policy Paper. In that paper, and this Strategy, water resources management is seen to comprise the institutional framework; management instruments; and the development, maintenance and operation of infrastructure. The paper looks at the dynamics of water and development. It builds on the 1993 policy paper, evaluating current scenarios and looking at future options and their implications both for government policy and the World Bank.

This study takes stock of the current water resources management in Armenia, including diagnosing the main sub-sectors (agriculture, urban, environment, and energy), reviewing the institutional framework and implementation status of water-sector policies, identifying the main challenges and making recommendations on the next steps.

The world faces huge challenges for water as population continues to grow, as emerging economies develop and as climate change alters the global and local water cycle. There are major questions to be answered about how we supply water in a sustainable and safe manner to fulfil our needs, while at the same time protecting vulnerable ecosystems from disaster. Water Resources: An Integrated Approach provides students with a comprehensive overview of both natural and socio-economic processes associated with water. The book contains chapters written by 20 specialist contributors, providing expert depth of coverage to topics. The text guides the reader through the topic of water starting with its unique properties and moving through environmental processes and human impacts upon them including the changing water cycle, water movement in river basins, water quality, groundwater and aquatic ecosystems. The book then covers management strategies for water resources, water treatment and re-use, and the role of water in human health before covering water economics and water conflict. The text concludes with a chapter that examines new concepts such as virtual water that help us understand current and future water resource use and availability across interconnected local and global scales. This book provides a novel interdisciplinary approach to water in a changing world, from an environmental change perspective and inter-related social, political and economic dimensions. It includes global examples from both the developing and developed world. Each chapter is supplemented with boxed case studies, end of chapter questions, and further reading, as well as a glossary of terms. The text is richly illustrated throughout with over 150 full colour diagrams and photos.

Employing an international and comparative analysis of international law as well as the domestic legal regimes of selected jurisdictions, i.e., China, South Africa and South Australia, Water Rights - An International and Comparative Study identifies the essential elements a well-structured water rights system, which ensures that the multiple functions of water resources are reasonably balanced, and the competing water needs are properly taken into consideration, and under which the economic, social and environmental values of water resources co-exist equitably in harmony. This book is the first to discuss water rights holistically, i.e., putting the three aspects of water rights (the property right of water resources, the human right to water and the environmental right to water) into a single, well-organised water rights system under the principle of sustainable development. Following the Introduction, Water Rights has six chapters. Chapter Two develops an analytical approach to be applied in the following four chapters. After the problems concerning water rights in China are identified, the three aspects of water rights both in international law and domestic water laws of South Africa and South Australia are discussed. In Chapter Six, principles and structure that should be employed for designing an ideal water rights system or improving and perfecting an existing one are recommended. With these recommendations, the definitions of water resources and the three aspects of water rights are analysed. Specific amendments to the China Water Law 2002 are proposed. Finally, this work concludes with explanations of the basis for the recommendations presented. This book will be a valuable reference for all those concerned with water rights, including lawyers, hydrologists and water resources managers.

This is a pioneering study about the relationship between fresh water, peace, and security in Asia from the Middle East to Siberia but with a special focus on South and Southeast Asia. Asia is home to many of the world's great rivers and lakes, but its huge population and booming economies make it the most water-scarce continent on a per capita basis. Over extensive irrigation, pollution, and global warming add to the demographic and economic pressures on Asia's fresh water supplies. The location of the sources for much of South and Southeast Asia's fresh water is in the Chinese controlled Tibetan Plateau, and China's increasing exploitation of these water sources have created growing geopolitical tensions that could boil over into conflict. India is reliant on fresh water from Tibet, which gives the Chinese uncomfortable leverage over India and further exacerbates their unsettled border disputes. Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other countries of the region also find themselves in similarly vulnerable positions where water is scarce and the sources are increasingly being exploited and polluted upstream by the continent's most powerful country. Brahma Chellaney proposes strategies to avoid conflict and more equitably share and preserve Asia's water resources.

The purpose of this report is to produce a review on water resource valuation issues and techniques specifically for the appraisal and negotiation of raw (as opposed to bulk or retail) water resource allocation for agricultural development projects. The review considers raw water in naturally occurring watercourses, lakes, wetlands, soil and aquifers, taking an ecosystem function perspective at a catchment scale, and takes account of the demands from irrigated and rainfed agriculture. It is hoped that the review will have particular application to developing countries where agreed methods for reconciling competing uses are often absent, but nevertheless takes account of valuation approaches that have been made in post industrial economies.

State of the World 2004 takes a fresh look at the trends that have put the global economy on a collision course with the Earth's ecosystems. This year's edition has a special focus on the theme of consumption. It questions whether a less-consumptive society is possible; and concludes that it is essential. The book explores overconsumption, a by-product of affluence; and underconsumption, linked to poverty, and provides 'behind the scenes' exposes of the devastating environmental impacts of some of our most popular products, from plastic bags, to paper, to mobile phones. Published annually in 28 languages, each edition draws on the breadth of expertise of Worldwatch's award-winning team of writers and researchers. State of the World is relied upon by national governments, UN agencies, development workers and law-makers for its authoritative and up-to-the-minute analysis and information. It is essential for anyone concerned with building a positive, global future.

Provides the tools that allow companies to understand the fundamental concepts of water resource management and to take proper action towards sustainable development Businesses, communities, and ecosystems everywhere depend on clean freshwater to survive and prosper. When the same source of water is shared for economic, social, and environmental causes it becomes the responsibility of every sector to develop a sustainable water strategy beneficial for all. This book offers a water resource management plan for industries that is directly implementable and consistent with the Water Framework Directives of different countries with a special emphasis on developing countries—a plan that is economically efficient, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable. Industrial Water Resource Management, Challenges and Opportunities for Efficient Water Stewardship offers explicit technical and investment solutions, socioeconomic and legal instruments, and recommendations for institutional restructuring. Written by a leading world expert in the field, it covers a wide range of topics including: ● Source water assessment and protection ● Water audit, industrial water footprint assessment—an evaluation of tools and methodologies ● Corporate water disclosure methods and tools ● Water stewardship by the industries ● Stakeholder collaboration and engagement ● New technologies enabling companies to better manage water resources Given the well-known challenge of managing natural resources in a way that maximizes and sustains social welfare, this book provides an invaluable point of reference for applied researchers and policy makers working in water resources management.