The proceedings from The Water and Society Conference 2015 aim to encourage trans-disciplinary communication on issues related to the nature of water, and its use and exploitation by society. The papers within this book demonstrate the need to bridge the gap between the broad spectrum of socio-political sciences and humanistic disciplines and specialists in physical sciences, biology, environmental sciences and health. The Water and Society conference series which began 2011 comprise of issues such as the need for clean and inexpensive water by an increasing global population, and the growing demands of Agriculture and Industry. The book deals with the interaction between water and energy systems, as well as the more technical aspects of water resources management and quality, in the aim to help the policy makers put forward policies and legislation that will lead to improved solutions for all. Topics covered include: Water as a human right; Water quality; Water resources contamination; Water sanitation and health; Water and disaster management; Future water demands; Irrigation and desertification.

Containing the proceedings of the Second International Conference on the title topic, the book examines issues related to the nature of water, and its use and exploitation by society. Since ensuring an adequate water supply is becoming a critical issue in more and more countries, the conference brings together specialists from the social sciences and humanistic disciplines and the physical and natural sciences, biology, environmental sciences, and health to bridge gaps between the disciplines in addressing the problem. The international, interdisciplinary nature of the conference participants makes it possible to arrive at equitable solutions to the many transnational issues, relating to the rights of states, which arise around water supply.The book discusses: The nature of water; Water as a human right; Water as the source of life; Water in a changing climate; Future water demands and adaptation strategies; Water resources contamination; Water resources management; Irrigation and desertification; Water, sanitation and health; Transnational water rights; Legislation and controls; Lessons to be learnt; Water and disaster management.

As water availability, management and conservation become global challenges, there is now wide consensus that historical knowledge can provide crucial information to address present crises, offering unique opportunities to appreciate the solutions and mechanisms societies have developed over time to deal with water in all its forms, from rainfall to groundwater. This unique collection explores how ancient water systems relate to present ideas of resilience and sustainability and can inform future strategy. Through an investigation of historic water management systems, along with the responses to, and impact of, various water-driven catastrophes, contributors to this volume present tenable solutions for the long-term use of water resources in different parts of the world. The discussion is not limited to issues of the past, seeking instead to address the resonance and legacy of water histories in the present and future. Water and Society from Ancient Times to the Present speaks to an archaeological and non-archaeological scholarly audience and will be a useful primary reference text for researchers and graduate students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds including archaeology, anthropology, history, ecology, geography, geology, architecture and development studies.

This book contains the papers presented at a conference co-organized by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the Wessex Institute of Technology to facilitate trans-disciplinary communication on issues related to the nature of water, and its use and exploitation by society. With adequate water supply becoming a critical issue in more and more area, \there is a great and urgent need to bridge the gap between the broad spectrum of social sciences and humanistic disciplines and the specialists in physical and natural sciences, biology, environmental sciences, and health. Many issues are also trans-national in nature and relate to rights of states and hence it is essential to discuss these at international level to arrive at equitable and binding solutions that will ensure the rights of society to quality water supplies. The book discusses The nature of water; Water as a human right; Water as the source of life; Water in a changing climate; Future water demands and adaptation strategies; Water resources contamination; Surface and sub-surface water resources; Irrigation and desertification; Water, sanitation and health; Transnational water rights; Legislation and controls; Water through the ages; Lessons to be learnt; and Water and disaster management.

Despite the central importance that water has held for civilizations both ancient and modern, its social significance has made surprisingly little impact on our contemporary understanding of human history and development. Dominant interpretations of the relationship between society and nature have remained water blind. In Water and Society historian and leading water expert Terje Tvedt argues for a change that acknowledges the significant role played by water in societal development. Reflecting his expertise as a geographer, historian and a political scientist, and drawing on his wide experience of water issues around the world, Terje Tvedt s Water and Society provides a long overdue reappraisal of the relationship between water and society, one that gives water its rightful place as central to any true understanding of human history and development."

This volume presents papers from the 4th International Conference on Water & Society. The focus of the conference was to encourage trans-disciplinary communication on issues related to the nature of water, and its use and exploitation by society. The valuable research contained in this book demonstrates the need to bridge the gap between specialists in physical sciences, biology, environmental sciences and health. The availability of clean and inexpensive water can no longer be taken for granted as the need for water continues to increase due a growing global population. Heavy water consumers such as agriculture and industry often contribute to its contamination. Water distribution networks in urban areas and soiled water collection systems, present serious problems as well as the need to maintain ageing infrastructures. Possible technologically solutions, such as desalination or pumping systems are energy demanding but, as costs rise, the techniques currently developed may need to be re-assessed. The following list covers some of the subjects included in this book: Water resources management; Agribusiness; Water as a human right; Water quality; Water resources contamination; Sanitation and health; Water and disaster management; Policy and legislation; Future water demands; Irrigation and water management; Management of catchments; Groundwater management and conservation.

Water supports three basic pillars of our life and survival: safety, security, and sustainability. Hence, it is extremely important to revisit the fundamental characteristics of water in order to discover additional information and the characteristics water has that will help uncover pathways to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) to reduce inequality and make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Clean water is a critical component to meet such goals. While the fundamental physical and chemical properties of water continue to reveal new aspects, it is critical that we review these properties in the context of several recent applications and by case studies. The Handbook of Research on Water Sciences and Society provides the basics of water science, ways to sense/detect and mitigate contaminants, several regional case studies, and societal aspects of water, including the human right to access water. The book serves as a comprehensive knowledge base on the latest fundamental and applied research and scientific innovations regarding the relationships between society and water resources, safe and sustainable use of water, watershed stewardship, industrial application, and public health awareness. Covering a wide range of topics, it is an ideal resource for researchers, professionals, policymakers, scientists, practitioners, instructors, and students.

As water availability, management and conservation become global challenges, there is now wide consensus that historical knowledge can provide crucial information to address present crises, offering unique opportunities to appreciate the solutions and mechanisms societies have developed over time to deal with water in all its forms, from rainfall to groundwater. This unique collection explores how ancient water systems relate to present ideas of resilience and sustainability and can inform future strategy. Through an investigation of historic water management systems, along with the responses to, and impact of, various water-driven catastrophes, contributors to this volume present tenable solutions for the long-term use of water resources in different parts of the world. The discussion is not limited to issues of the past, seeking instead to address the resonance and legacy of water histories in the present and future. Water and Society from Ancient Times to the Present speaks to an archaeological and non-archaeological scholarly audience and will be a useful primary reference text for researchers and graduate students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds including archaeology, anthropology, history, ecology, geography, geology, architecture and development studies.

Over the centuries, civilisations have relied on the availability of clean and inexpensive water. This can no longer be taken for granted as the need for water continues to increase due to the pressure from a growing global population demanding higher living standards. Agriculture and industry, major users of water, are at the same time those that contribute to its contamination. Water distribution networks in urban areas, as well as soiled water collection systems, present serious problems in response to a growing population as well as the need to maintain ageing infrastructures. Many technologically feasible solutions, such as desalination or pumping systems are energy demanding but, as costs rise, the techniques currently developed may need to be re-assessed. The socio-political implications of a world short of clean, easily available water are enormous. It will lead to realignments in international politics and the emergence of new centres of power in the world. Policymakers need to be educated and advised on developing policies and regulations that will support the water systems of tomorrow. The role of society and its involvement with water is paramount. To meet the future demands for water, new standards, new training and additional support roles will best be delivered by those knowledgeable of the new technologies and direction of the industry. This volume highlights research on issues related to the nature of water and its use and exploitation by society.

A discussion of the relationship between people and water in medieval Italy, first published in 1998.