Water resources
management and
the environment

U Aswathanarayana

A A Balkema Publishers, The Netherlands, 2001, pp 422, US$ 47.50 (PB)

This book is about water resource planning and management, which is not a new field. The outstanding feature of this work is that the author has effectively integrated the two streams of science of water and the management of water.

This eminently readable book has 12 chapters. The first three chapters deal with the principles of hydrogeology, dynamics of water environments and water quality. Following eight chapters concentrate on the application of the technology. It concludes by outlining the different paradigms of water management from techno-socio-economic perspective.

The book takes a refreshing approach, often challenging the established practices. With the help of the case studies, the author suggest ways of popularising the use of wastewater among people. While recognising the shortfall in the supply of water for irrigation, the author outlines several techniques to improve utilisation and its supply. The problems in desalinisation for both sea and brackish waters has been effectively dealt with. The author smoothly integrates the technical scope of managing water resources with the institutional issues. Different methodologies for analysing the economic cost of water are also clearly laid out.