There is a pressing global problem of increasing freshwater scarcity. Lack of water has led to the threat of water rationing in one of the wealthiest regions in the world, California. In one of the world's poorest countries, Yemen, a rapidly growing population and overuse of water for irrigation may mean that its capital, Sana'a, will literally run out of water in the coming decade unless there is a change in how its water is managed.

The other side to the problem is diminishing water quality, and the quality of water that is available to billions of people is dire. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that about 3800 children die every day – almost exclusively in poor countries – as a direct result of unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation.

Without shift in how water is used and governed, scarcity and quality problems will be made much worse with the twin challenges of a growing world population and climate change; both these factors are expected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts in mid latitudes.

As per capita water volumes decrease, water conflicts will be exacerbated. In response to water scarcity, diversions of water from one area or catchment to another are likely to increase. Unfortunately, there are few places left in the world where additional water can be tapped without imposing substantial costs on existing users or on the environment.

Water Resources Planning and Management provides a unique insight into the problems our planet faces in terms of water quantity and quality, and what to do about it. It is the only book that adopts both a comprehensive and interdisciplinary focus to combine scientific and hydrological understanding with the social, institutional, ethical and legal dimensions of water management. Its contributions from some of the world's leading water experts, across many disciplines and with varied case studies from 19 different countries, makes it the ideal source of information for students, scholars and water practitioners.

Business as usual in terms of water management in many parts of the world cannot continue. This book provides an essential guide to change. It offers: (1) foundation chapters to understanding water (such as the water cycle, surface and groundwater interactions, and water ecosystems); (2) contributions on water planning and management (such as managing water trade offs, adaptive management of water, and managing environmental flows); and (3) chapters on the challenges and experiences of water management (such as Tar Sands of Alberta and Indigenous access to water in Australia). Whether you are concerned about groundwater contamination from arsenic in Bangladesh that has affected millions of people, want to understand Hydrology 101, or how to cope with the challenges of water scarcity in cities, this book has it all.