Summary

Water is one of the most essential element for the survival of living beings. With the increase in demand and decreasing quality and quantity, water has become one of the major issues and problems in the world today. It is unevenly distributed geographically and temporally, resulting in surpluses for some people and a threat for others. This book covers topics on scientific aspects, governance, and best management practices. The book shows that good governance, policies for effective conservation and public participation are important for water use. There are a lot of examples of best management practices all over the world ? for effective and efficient use of water, community-based programs in North America, Asia and Africa. The book provides two case studies.