Atlas of water: mapping the world's most critical resource

The planet is running out of fresh water fast. Yet water is a key commodity for future development. This crucial and timely atlas shows water distribution worldwide, and considers a future where privatization and profit dictate availability. With snapshots of vulnerable areas - such as Bangladesh, California, Mexico City and the Middle East - as well as the global picture, this is a unique resource for general readers, as well as policy makers and students. The book covers a wide range of topics, including: water scarcity and dependency, groundwater mining, wastewater use and desalination, contamination and disease, floods and droughts, sanitation and human health, commercial and international conflicts, hydropower, dams and irrigation, water harvesting and conservation.