Basics - Overview and Definitions
of Water Issues and Challenges

Earth's Water

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The Global Water Crisis - Water: Essential for Life

A concise overview of the situation from the United Nations (UN).

Global Water Issues

"Global Water Issues explores from an international perspective the many interrelated aspects of how humanity manages water quality and supply, how water relates to environmental concerns, and how this most fundamental substance affects even mankind’s social and political arrangements." Adobe PDF format. From the U.S. Department of State.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Water Issues

A brief overview of water issues and global challenges.

Time: World Water Crisis

Photo essay. "In the extraordinary new book Blue Planet Run, hundreds of photographers from all over the world track mankind's vital race to provide safe drinking water to the one billion people who lack it."

USAID: The Global Water Crisis

"The world faces an unprecedented crisis in water resources management, with profound implications for global food security, protection of human health, and maintenance of aquatic ecosystems."

Water Science Glossary of Terms

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Water Resources of New York State

News, maps, data, and more. From U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Water Resources of the United States

News, research, studies, forecasts, WaterWatch: Current Water Wesources Conditions, maps, publications, and more. From U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Wikipedia: Water Crisis

Please note disclaimers. See also these realted articles: Freshwater, Peak Water, Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle), Water Distribution on Earth, Water Resources.

Climate and Weather - Climatology,
Meteorology, Precipitation, Rainfall

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) and Precipitation Analysis

Warnings, observations, forecasts, current and archived data. "About the Precipitation Analysis Pages: These pages graphically show the short-term observed and climatic trends of precipitation across the lower 48 United States (CONUS) and Puerto Rico." From the U.S. National Weather Service.

Climate Change and Global Warming

Thrall's directory of related resources.

Climate Change and Water

Sections include: National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change, Strategy Implementation, Regional / State / Local / Tribal / Other Climate and Water Links, Climate Change and Water Information and Education, Key Climate Change and Water Organizations, Meetings and Conferences. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water.

Climate Change FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

An electronic book on climate change and from The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS), "established by the National Science Foundation - NSF - in 2005"). Note: This is a 9.1MB PDF file, and the Adobe Reader required to view it.

Climate Change - Health and Environmental Effects: Water Resources

Topics include: Water Availability, Water Quality, Water Resources in North America. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Climate Prediction Center: Monitoring and Data - U.S. Climate Data and Maps - Precipitation and Temperature

Recent Precipitation Maps, Precipitation Plots for Selected Cities, Station Precipitation and Temperature Tables, Long-Term United States Temperature and Precipitation Trends. From the U.S. National Weather Service.

Global Change Master Directory

Topics include: Agriculture, Atmosphere (precipitation, air quality), Biosphere (Ecosystems, vegetation), Climate Indicators (air temperature, drought), Cryosphere (frozen ground, sea ice), Human Dimensions (land use, population), Land Surface (erosion, topography), Oceans (ocean temperature, salinity), Paleoclimate (ice cores, land records), Terrestrial Hydrosphere (glaciers, ice sheets, surface water, snow, water quality and chemistry). "Our goal is to enable users to locate and obtain access to Earth science data sets and services relevant to global change and Earth science research. The GCMD database holds more than 25,000 descriptions of Earth science data sets and services covering all aspects of Earth and environmental sciences." From NASA.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

News, data, forecasts, articles, studies, and more information from the U.S. Government.

National Weather Service

Forecasts, data, news, and other information from the U.S. Government.

The Water Cycle: Precipitation

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Online Climate Data Directory

"NCDC is the world's largest active archive of weather data. NCDC produces numerous climate publications and responds to data requests from all over the world." Note: Certain data sets are not free. From the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Desalination / Desalinization / Reverse Osmosis

How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?

From How Stuff Works

Desalination of Ground Water: Earth Science Perspectives

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

European Desalination Society

"EDS is a Europe-wide organization for individual and corporate members including universities, companies, research institutes, government agencies and all concerned with and interested in desalination and membrane technologies for water."

International Desalination Association

"DA is committed to development and promotion of the appropriate use of desalination and desalination technology globally in water supply, water reuse, water pollution control, water purification, water treatment and other water sciences and technology. An NGO of the United Nations, IDA carries out this mission by encouraging research, promoting and exchanging communication, disseminating information, and supporting education in the field of desalination and water sciences."

Library of Congress - Science Reference Services: Desalination Research Topics & Sources

Suggested readings, subject headings

The New York Times: Desalination News

Saline Water

Overview from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Seawater and Desalination

Overview from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Water Reuse Association: Desalination FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Topics include: What is desalination?, Why should we desalinate water?, What is the difference between brackish water and seawater desalination?, Is desalination affordable?, What are the environmental impacts of desalination?, What happens to the salt that is removed from the water? Also see their Desalination Glossary.

Why Is the Sea Salty?

Explanation from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Wikipedia Articles: Desalinization, Oceanic Salinity, Reverse Osmosis

Please note disclaimers.

Sandia: Water and Desalination Initiatives

Research on current and future technologys. Includes documents, reports, and studies (PDF format: view with Adobe Reader).

See also:

• Oceans & Seas

Drinking Water

Bottled Water

Sections include: Bottled Water Regulation and the FDA, Food Facts: FDA Regulates the Safety of Bottled Water. From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Drinking Water Topics

Topics include: Public Water Systems (Quality and Testing, Regulations, Sources, Treatment), Water Fluoridation (Benefits, Safety, Guidelines, Fact Sheets), Bottled Water (Basics, Immunocompromised Individuals, Fluoride), Private Water Systems (Wells - Basics, Testing, Treatment, Nonpublic Water Sources), Camping, Hiking, Travel (Safe Drinking and Recreational Water, Illness).

Chemical and Pathogenic Contaminant Exposure by Drinking Water

Contaminant Occurrence, Distribution, and Movement (Arsenic, Disinfection-By-Products, Emerging Contaminants, MTBE and other Volatile Organic Compounds, Nitrate, Pesticides, Radionuclides, Waterborne Pathogens and Indicators), Human-health related research (Health-Based Screening Levels, Lignite-Coal Deposits, Ground Water, and Potential Relations to Kidney Disease, Contaminants in Ground Water and Potential Relations to Leukemia Cluster in Nevada, Potential Health Effects of Arsenic in New England Ground Water, Effects of Zinc and Other Metals), Related Information from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS Drinking Water Projects, Publications, Programs). From the from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

A Consumer's Guide to the Nation's Drinking Water

Sections include: How Safe Is My Drinking Water?, Where Does My Drinking Water Come From And How Is It Treated?, How Do We Use Drinking Water In Our Homes?, What's Being Done To Improve Water Security?, What Can I Do If There Is A Problem With My Drinking Water?, How Safe Is The Drinking Water In My Household Well?, What You Can Do To Protect Your Drinking Water. Select sections by following chapter links at left side of page. A publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Drinking Water Contaminants

Topics include: National Primary Drinking Water Regulations, National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations, Unregulated Contaminants, Microorganisms, Disinfectants, Disinfection Byproducts, Inorganic Chemicals, Organic Chemicals, Radionuclides. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Drinking Water Contaminants - America's Children and the Environment: A First View of Available Measures

Topics include: Exceedances of Drinking Water Standards, Nitrates and Nitrites, Monitoring and Reporting. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Ground Water and Drinking Water

Sections include: Drinking Water and Health Basics, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Local Drinking Water Information, Drinking Water Standards, List of Contaminants and MCLs, Regulations and Guidance, Public Drinking Water Systems, Source Water Protection, Underground Injection Control, Data and Databases, Drinking Water Academy, Safe Drinking Water Act, National Drinking Water Advisory Council, Water Infrastructure Security. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Local Drinking Water Information - Browse by State

Environmental facts, issues, data, and more. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Medline Plus: Drinking Water

Includes basics, news, research, and related articles. From the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Drinking Water

Topics include: Reservoir Levels, Drinking Water Supply and Quality Report, Groundwater System, Cryptosporidium and Giardia Background Information and Monitoring Program, Waterborne Disease Risk Assessment Program (WDRAP), Drought and Water Consumption, Watershed Protection, and more.

New York State Department of Health: Drinking Water Data

Includes: New York State Public Drinking Water Annual Water Quality Reports, State of New York Public Water Supply Annual Compliance Report.

New York State Department of Health: Drinking Water Protection Program

Information about drinking water supply, Frequently Asked Questions and Definitions, Health Law and Public Water Systems in New York: Facts and Figures (Maximum Contaminants Levels - MCL, Maximum Contaminant Level Goals - MCLG, Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels - MRDL, Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goals - MRDLG), Gasoline Oxygenates in Drinking Water, Lead in Drinking Water, Water System Level Improvements, Preventing Drinking Water Contamination, Additional Public Health Related Water Protection Programs.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Basic Information, Laws and Statutes, Regulations and Guidance. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Safe Drinking Water Hotline

Telephone number / contact information and a Question/Answer Database. "The Safe Drinking Water Hotline provides the general public, regulators, medical and water professionals, academia, and media, with information about drinking water and ground water programs authorized under the Safe Drinking Water Act." From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Water Footprint Calculator

Answer a series of questions to see how your water usages compares with national averages. From National Geographic.

World Health Organization (WHO): Drinking Water Safety and Issues

"The safety and accessibility of drinking-water are major concerns throughout the world." Fact sheets, publications, and related links.

See also:

• News & Special Coverage

Droughts and Drought Conditions

Drought Watch: State Information on Droughts

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Drought.gov: The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

"The U.S. Drought Portal is part of the interactive system to: Provide early warning about emerging and anticipated droughts; Assimilate and quality control data about droughts and models; Provide information about risk and impact of droughts to different agencies and stakeholders; Provide information about past droughts for comparison and to understand current conditions; Explain how to plan for and manage the impacts of droughts; Provide a forum for different stakeholders to discuss drought-related issues."

Drought: The Creeping Disaster

From NOAA National Weather Service Office of Meteorology and NASA (National Aeronautic and Space Administration).

Droughts

An overview of droughts, conditions, and meteorological / agricultural / hydrological / socioeconomic impacts. From the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

National Drought Mitigation Center

Information on droughts, preparation, and related issues. Also home of the U.S. Drought Monitor, which features Current Conditions and Forecasts of drought activity in the United States.

National Weather Service (NWS): National Drought Resources

Includes: NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Drought Information Center, Drought Monitor, National Drought Mitigation Center, Climate Prediction Center's Drought Monitoring Page, Climate Division Drought Data, Standardized Precipitation Index, Real-Time Water Information from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), North American Drought Variability, National Drought Policy Commission.

New York Drought Information

For New York State (NYS) and City. Maps and data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The New York Times: News on Droughts

Science Topics: Droughts

Related resources and updates from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Government & International
Organizations, Associations, & Efforts

Jump to a section:

• New York State
• Federal
• International Organizations & Associations

New York State & City Information

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Water Supply and Conservation

Sections include: Drought Facts, Public Water Supply Program, Water Well Program.

New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee

"The mission of the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee is to develop and oversee implementation of an effective soil and water conservation and agricultural nonpoint source water quality program for the State of New York that is implemented primarily through county Soil and Water Conservation Districts."

New York State Water Resources Institute (WRI)

"The Mission of the New York State Water Resources Institute (WRI) is to improve the management of water resources in New York State and the nation. As a federally and state mandated institution located at Cornell University, we are uniquely situated to access scientific and technical resources that are relevant to New York State's and the nation's water management needs. We collaborate with regional, state, and national partners to increase awareness of emerging water resources issues and to develop and assess new water management technologies and policies."

Federal Government Information

USAID: Food Security and the Global Water Crisis

National Science Foundation: Countering an Approaching Water Crisis

Water for America Initiative: Addressing 21st Century Water Challenges

From the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation.

Water Quality Information Center (WQIC)

"Water Quality Information Center (WQIC) provides electronic access to information on water quality and agriculture. The center collects, organizes, and communicates the scientific findings, educational methodologies, and public policy issues related to water quality and agriculture." From the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agriculture Library (NAL).

The WaterCAMPWS: The Water Crisis

From The Center of Advanced Materials for the Purification of Water with Systems, a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center.

International Organizations & Associations

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

"Founded in 1881, AWWA is the authoritative resource on safe water, providing knowledge, information and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond." Includes WaterWiser: The Water Efficiency Clearinghouse, Water:\Stats Surveys, and more.

International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC)

"Since its foundation in 1968, the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) has facilitated the sharing, promotion and use of knowledge so that governments, professionals and organisations can better support poor men, women and children in developing countries to obtain water and sanitation services they will use and maintain."

International Water Association (IWA)

"IWA is at the forefront in connecting the broad community of water professionals around the globe - integrating the leading edge of professional thought on research and practice, regulators and the regulated, across national boundaries and across the drinking water, wastewater and stormwater disciplines."

Water Reuse Association and Foundation

"WateReuse represents an international group of organizations and individuals working together to improve and increase local water supplies. WateReuse consists of two independently governed organizations with a unified mission and combined staff."

The World Bank: Water News and Global Issues

Sections include: Water and Climate Change, Water and the Environment. Also here; news, international information, and publications such as "Addressing China's Water Scarcity." Adobe Reader required to view documents.

World Health Organization (WHO): Water

Health and environmental issues concerning water, drinking water quality, and wastewater. See also WHOs' Water Sanitation and Health page.

WaterEC, The International Water Efficiency Conference

"WaterEC, The International Water Efficiency Conference, is designed specifically for municipal, regional, state, provincial, and federal water officials; engineers; and industry professionals to gather and share technical, technological, and managerial water strategies."

World Water Council

"The World Water Council's mission is to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on earth." See also their Water Crisis page.

World Water Forum: The World's Largest Water Event

The World Water Forum, organized every three years by the World Water Council in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country, is the largest international event in the field of water. It primarily serves four main purposes: To raise the importance of water on the political agenda; To support the deepening of discussions towards the solution of international water issues in the 21st century; To formulate concrete proposals and bring their importance to the world's attention; To generate political commitment."

World Water Week

"The Purpose and Scope for the World Water Week are developed each year to expand upon and provide the motivation behind the year's theme."

See also:

• Droughts
• United Nations (UN)

News & Special Coverage

News

Google News headlines: desalination, "drinking water", "reverse osmosis", water droughts, water rights, water droughts, water scarcity, "water supply"

New York Times: Water News

Scroll down past "Highlights from the Archives" to see current headlines.

From Science Daily:

Droughts - Research and News

Oceanography News and Research

Pollution News

Water, air, and other forms of pollution.

Water Conservation News

Water and Environment News

From the International Atomic Energy Agency. Adobe Reader required.

World Water Council: News

Special Coverage

ABC News: Earth 2100

This documentary series examines a number of issues, including climate change, water sustainability, and potential water shortages, droughts, and rationing based on current projected population and consumption rates through year 2100.

BBC NEWS: Water - Another Global 'Crisis'

Includes interactive maps of future water stresses.

From PBS:

Frontline: Poisoned waters

"A far-reaching investigation into America's great waterways. They are in peril. There's a new wave of pollution that's killing fish, causing mutations in frogs - - and threatening human health."

Newshour: Dozens of Pharmaceuticals Detected in Drinking Water

"Low concentrations of a range of drugs, including antibiotics, birth control and anti-convulsants, are present in the drinking water supplies of 24 major cities."

Newshour: Water Fights Present Dangerous Challenges in Coming Decades

"By the year 2030, about half the world's population -- 3.9 billion people -- could be living in water-stressed areas where health and sanitation are at risk, according to a new report."

P.O.V.'s Borders: Environment: Water

"Water flows through our lives every day. But as long as our showers run and our toilets flush, we don't ask too many questions. Water becomes invisible, whether it's the expensive stuff in our bottles, or the polluted stuff under our bridges."

Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: The Challenges of Climate Change

"The Sirte Water and Energy Conference aims at unlocking the potential of water for development in Africa."

Oceans & Seas, Oceanography

Global Change Master Directory: Oceans

Follow "Oceans" link at site for data and information pertaining to oceans/seas/bodies of water and global climate change. Topics include: ocean pressure, temperature, density, salinity, chemistry, circulation, tides, winds, waves, circulation, and more. From NASA.

How Stuff Works: Oceans and Seas Library

Articles and videos on oceanographic phenomena, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, El Nino, and more.

National Ocean Service

"Our oceans and coasts are facing unprecedented pressure from threats such as climate change, marine debris, and port congestion. In response to these threats, NOS scientists, natural resource managers, and specialists are seeking solutions that continue to grow our nation's coastal economy while sustaining a healthy and productive environment." From the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC)

"The National Oceanographic Data Center is a national repository and dissemination facility for global oceanographic data which acquires and preserves a historical record of the Earth's changing environment to be used for operational applications and ocean climate research." From the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Oceana: Protecting the World's Oceans

Described as "the largest international organization focused 100 percent on ocean conservation." Provides a blog, articles on climate change/global warming, news, and a number of reports and publications such as "Hungry Oceans: What Happens When The Prey Is Gone," "Shipping Impacts on Climate," "Too Few Fish: A Regional Assessment of the World's Fisheries," "Mercury and Seafood," and "Oceans at Risk: Wasted Catch and the Destruction Of Ocean Life."

Oceans, Seas, and Coasts: Problems

Sections include: Ocean Pollution (an overview of pollutants such as oil spills, fertilizers, plastic bags and bottles, solid garbage, sewage, toxic chemicals, and more), Climate Change (coral bleaching, stormy weather, altered lifestyles, rising sea levels, acidic oceans), Inadequate Protection, and more. From WWF.

Oceanus

In-depth full-text articles and information on oceanic issues. Topics include: Climate and Oceans, Coastal Science, Geology and Geophysics, Natural Hazards, Ocean Chemistry, Ocean Circulation, Ocean Exploration, Ocean Life, Ocean Policy, Ocean Resources, Ocean Technology, Pollution, Sound in the Ocean, Vessels and Vehicles. From the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

Office of Naval Research: Oceanography

An educational website on oceans from the U.S. Navy.

Sea Level Rise

"Our sea level research at CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) is focused on understanding recent (20th century and early 21st century) sea level change as a basis for improving projections of future sea level rise." Includes: Historical Sea Level Changes, Why Does Sea Level Change?, Sea Level Projections / Impacts / Measurements / Data, From CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia).

Sea Level Rise Maps

From CReSIS (The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets, "established by the National Science Foundation - NSF - in 2005"). Adobe Reader required for some documents.

Sea Level Rise Reports

"For the last 25 years, EPA has been assessing the implications of rising sea level and opportunities to prepare for the possible consequences. Our site archive provides an extended abstract on which of these reports provide relevant information for particular issues and what to read first." From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Sea Level Trends

"The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services has been measuring sea level for over 150 years, with tide stations operating on all U.S. coasts through the National Water Level Observation Network." Click on U.S. map or select a region or "World" on left side of page. Also available here: Tides and Currents Education (What are Tides?, What Causes Tides?, Gravity, Inertia, Changing Angles and Tides, Frequency, Tidal Variations, Types and Causes of Tidal Cycles, What Affects Tides?, Monitoring, How are Tides Measured?). From the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

UN Atlas of the Oceans

"The UN Atlas of the Oceans is an Internet portal providing information relevant to the sustainable development of the oceans. It is designed for policy-makers who need to become familiar with ocean issues and for scientists, students and resource managers who need access to databases and approaches to sustainability." Also see their Ocean Issues section for topics such as: Climate Variability and Climate Change, Emergencies, Food Security, Governance, Human Health, Pollution and Degradation, Safety, Sustainable Development.

See also:

• Desalination
• News & Special Coverage

Water Pollution, Contaminants,
Health & Safety Issues,
& Water Treatment

Clean Water Act

Introduction, summary, text, and history. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthy Water

Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (Community Systems, Household Treatment and Storage, Sanitation and Hygiene, Travelers' Health), ater-related Emergencies and Outbreaks (Safe Water, Wastewater, Hygiene, Public Health Toolkits), Diseases, Contaminants, and Injuries (Alphabetical, By Primary Symptom, By Type of Disease/Contaminant/Injury), Healthy Swimming / Recreational Water (Pools and Spas, Oceans/Lakes/Rivers, Injury and Skin Cancer, Recreational Water Illnesses), Other Uses of Water (Agricultural, Industrial, Medical), Water-related Data and Statistics (Waterborne Outbreaks, Health Data, Environmental Tracking, Biomonitoring).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Water Contamination and Agriculture

Agricultural aspects and effects / impacts of water pollution and contaminants.

Environmental Contaminants Program

Water Quality Issues and other information. From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

MedlinePlus: Water Pollution

Health aspects and effects / impacts of water pollution. Includes basics, news, research, and related articles. From the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Water Pollution

Scroll down page for Water Pollution Topics (Pollutants, Effects, Control, and more). From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Wikipedia: Water Pollution

Please note disclaimers.

See also:

• New York State
• News & Special Coverage
• Oceans & Seas

Recycling & Reuse

PBS Online NewsHour: Water Recycling

A program from 2008 investigating water recycling technologies and efforts.

USAID: Water Reuse as a Tool for Water Resources Management

Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits

From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Water Reuse Association and Foundation

"WateReuse represents an international group of organizations and individuals working together to improve and increase local water supplies. WateReuse consists of two independently governed organizations with a unified mission and combined staff."

Wikipedia: Reclaimed Water / Wastewater Reuse / Recycled Water

Please note disclaimers.

United Nations (UN)

FAO Water

From the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "In the face of increasing water scarcity, and the dominance of agricultural water use, FAO is in the forefront to enhance global agricultural performance while promoting the sustainability of water use for food production."

UN News Centre: Ballooning Global Population Adding to Water Crisis, Warns New UN Report

Link to full report: World Water Development Report: Water in a Changing World (WWDR-3). Adobe Reader required for PDF edition of report.

UN-Water

From the United Nations. "UN-Water includes four specific programmes, each with its own work plan, budget and an executing agency co-ordinating their implementation. UN-Water's four programmes are: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), World Health Organization (WHO)/ United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme on Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP), UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC), UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC)."

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme): Freshwater Activities

News, information, and publications such as "Freshwater Under Threat: Vulnerability Assessment of Freshwater Resources to Environmental Change in South Asia" and "The Critical Connection: Water Security and Ecosystem Services." Adobe Reader required to view documents.

UNESCO Water, Sustainable Development and Conservation of Freshwater Resources in the World

"The UNESCO Water Portal's objective is to improve access to information on freshwater on the web. The site serves as a thematic entry point to the current UNESCO and UNESCO-led programmes on freshwater. It also provides a platform for sharing and browsing websites of other water-related organizations, government bodies and NGOs through the water links and events databases."

Vital Water Graphics: An Overview of the State of the World's Fresh and Marine Waters

"It is hoped that this information will be useful to enable a general audience to better understand water issues and assist water users and professionals to make decisions that will protect our water resources for future generations." Report provided by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Water for Life, 2005-2015

"The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action 'Water for Life.' A decade of action! The primary goal of the 'Water for Life' Decade is to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015."

Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)

"The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) was formally created in 1990 in line with a United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/45/181), to continue the work of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990)."

World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

"WWAP monitors freshwater issues in order to provide recommendations, develop case studies, enhance assessment capacity at a national level and inform the decision-making process. Its primary product, the World Water Development Report (WWDR), is a periodic, comprehensive review providing an authoritative picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources."

See also:

• Basics - Overview and Definitions of Water Issues and Challenges

Books & Other Materials
on Water & Related Issues
in the Library System Catalog

• Aqua Shock: The Water Crisis in America - Susan J. Marks
• Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water - Maude Barlow
• Dry Spring: The Coming Water Crisis of North America - Chris Wood -
• Earth's Water Crisis - Rob Bowden
• Not a Drop to Drink: America's Water Crisis (And What You Can Do) - Ken Midkiff
• Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis and What To Do about It - Robert Glennon
• Water Supplies in Crisis - Russ Parker
• Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization - Steven Solomon >[Forthcoming in 2010]
• When the Rivers Run Dry: Water, the Defining Crisis of the Twenty-first Century - Fred Pearce