Urban Water Security [Hardcover]

Urban Water Security

In the twenty-first century, the world has seen an unprecedented migration of people from rural to urban areas. With the global demand for water projected to outstrip supply in the coming decades, cities will likely face water insecurity as a result of climate change and the various impacts of urbanisation. Traditionally, urban water managers have relied on large-scale, supply-side infrastructural projects to meet increased demands for water; however, these projects are environmentally, economically and politically costly. Urban Water Security argues that cities need to transition from supply-side to demand-side management to achieve urban water security. Urban Water Security provides readers with a series of in-depth case studies of leading developed cities, of differing climates, incomes and lifestyles from around the world, that have used demand management tools to modify the attitudes and behaviour of water users in an attempt to achieve urban water security.

Readership: Town and regional planners, water conservation managers and policymakers, international companies and organisations with large water footprints, environmental and water NGOs, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students.

Series Editor Foreword  Challenges in Water Management xvii
Acknowledgements xix

Introduction 1
1 Water 101 5
1.1 What is water? 5
1.2 Hydrological cycle 6
1.3 Natural variations to water quantity 11
1.4 Natural variations to water quality 14
1.5 Impacts of urbanisation on water resources 17
1.6 Water and wastewater treatment processes 20

2 What is urban water security? 25
2.1 Non?-climatic challenges to achieving urban water security 26
2.2 Climatic challenges to achiel³U