"Water in all its forms"
The water question is both all-encompassing and specific. On the one hand water and its challenges affect the political, technical and human spheres. On the other, water is highly specific in nature as an essential source of life for every individual on the planet.
If we look a little deeper, we can see that access to water for everyone strongly depends on our ability to respect its fragile nature, make it available and establish the conditions to make it safe.
Many studies explore the broad topic of water, sector by sector. It is unusual to read about a more general approach to addressing the water question. The global context of the current economy has a considerable influence on our inability to finance water requirements adequately. A number of general but interconnected factors are at play: demographic, hydrographical, economic, political and educational. These explain the difficulty of resolving what could be the greatest crisis humankind has ever faced, namely the predicted death of half the world's population in less than 20 years due to a lack of water.
This book is based on my research and more than 20 years’ international experience as a consultant engineer in the water management and hydro-power sector. It is also the outcome of more than 10 years developing the "Water Management" module of a Masters course at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
The book takes a didactic approach but is in line with the current economic reality of ever-changing globalisation. It will be of interest to anyone wanting to understand the technical and economic issues involved in resolving the water shortage and to those who believe it is time to prioritise establishing a worldwide water management policy. By 2030, the 4 billion individuals in need of water will not be willing to just die of thirst. As well as anticipating a health crisis, perhaps there is an opportunity to consider alternative forms of economic development based on the medium and long terms. The "quest" for water could be a tool for boosting flagging economic development and a solution to the survival of suffering populations.
The water question is both all-encompassing and specific. On the one hand water and its challenges affect the political, technical and human spheres. On the other, water is highly specific in nature as an essential source of life for every individual on the planet.
If we look a little deeper, we can see that access to water for everyone strongly depends on our ability to respect its fragile nature, make it available and establish the conditions to make it safe.
Many studies explore the broad topic of water, sector by sector. It is unusual to read about a more general approach to addressing the water question. The global context of the current economy has a considerable influence on our inability to finance water requirements adequately. A number of general but interconnected factors are at play: demographic, hydrographical, economic, political and educational. These explain the difficulty of resolving what could be the greatest crisis humankind has ever faced, namely the predicted death of half the world's population in less than 20 years due to a lack of water.
This book is based on my research and more than 20 years’ international experience as a consultant engineer in the water management and hydro-power sector. It is also the outcome of more than 10 years developing the "Water Management" module of a Masters course at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
The book takes a didactic approach but is in line with the current economic reality of ever-changing globalisation. It will be of interest to anyone wanting to understand the technical and economic issues involved in resolving the water shortage and to those who believe it is time to prioritise establishing a worldwide water management policy. By 2030, the 4 billion individuals in need of water will not be willing to just die of thirst. As well as anticipating a health crisis, perhaps there is an opportunity to consider alternative forms of economic development based on the medium and long terms. The "quest" for water could be a tool for boosting flagging economic development and a solution to the survival of suffering populations.
