Reviews (12)

Plan B
Fred Pearce provides a current and thorough accounting of the travestries of water mismanagement throughout the globe.Plan A groups the grandiose and expensive plans of water engineers to impound and transfer water that have already failed or soon will fail [e.g. "water flows uphill to money"]
Afoundation to our future
A scientific travelogue, engaging both in the author's personal approach and the wealth of information it contains. Highly readable; the message is both clear and alarming:we have soiled our home, have lost sight of our stewardship, and immediate action is needed.Continuing neglect, indifference, and procrastination will be irreversible.Not a shrill or alarmist messenger, the author provides practical interventions both for the individual and on a larger, political scale.The concern is that, embedded in the present, broader cacophany of blame and distraction, the book will be overlooked.Read this book.You owe it to yourself and the future to not sit on the sidelines.

Sponge of Damocles
For those concerned about the frightening state of the world's fresh water supplies, this book is a treasure of information and viewpoints on why humanity should start getting extremely worried about the issue. Fred Pearce has traveled the world to report on water supply horror stories (and a few success stories), with the theme of river health and long-term human usage. This book turns out to have a similar effect for the reader as others on the subject, which dutifully report on who in the world doesn't have enough water to drink and the potential human consequences. (Though this one probably has the most specific examples.) Pearce does give his book a bit of an edge by finding some unique insights into the social and economic problems that are leading us all down a sinkhole of disappearing water.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Natural Resources    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Water Supply    6. Water resources development    7. Water-supply    8. Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Development - Sustainable Development    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Environmental Protection    5. Great Lakes    6. Lakes & Ponds    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Water Resources Conservation    10. Water Supply    11. Water resources development    12. Water-supply    13. Conservation of the environment    14. Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection    15. Political Science / Public Policy   

Reviews (1)

non-western water supply
This book reviews the art of roof and ground catchment systems for rainwater.The water collected can be used for household or other purposes.The designs are aimed for individuals with limited access to electricity and/or civic water utilities. The text includes drawings, photographs and step-by-step instructions.
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Subjects:  1. Development - Economic Development    2. Development Studies (Social Sciences)    3. Earth Sciences - Hydrology    4. General    5. Political Science    6. Sociology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Water Resources Conservation    9. Water Supply    10. Management of land & natural resources    11. Water supply & treatment   

Reviews (1)

A Better Understanding of the Coastal Environment
As one of the Open University Oceanography Series, this book offers an excellent introduction to the physical processes operating in the nearshore and immediate offshore environments of the coastal zone.With a particular emphasis on the relationship between process and form, this work covers essential ideas and practical applications for university level instructors and students interested in the coastal environment.The book material is straightforward, readable, and offers the opportunity to develop fundamental research questions at a variety of levels.Best of all, it's a well-organized work at an affordable price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - Geology    2. Earth Sciences - Oceanography    3. Geophysics    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Science    7. Tides    8. Water Supply    9. Waves    10. Deltas, estuaries, coastal regions    11. Geology & the lithosphere    12. Oceanography (seas)    13. Science / Oceanography   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Agronomy    2. Agriculture - Soil Science    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Soil Management    6. Soil conservation    7. Technology    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Water Resources Conservation    10. Water Supply    11. Water conservation    12. Agriculture & Farming    13. Conservation of the environment    14. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (6)

The home water supply
worth the price, will save you a fortune, if you have the need for water.

Lacks Basic Data
This book doesn't contain the data needed for developing even a simple design for a home water system. For example, there is no data to calculate friction loss from water moving through pipes. The book notes that friction loss is easy to calculate using a table. The book includes a table that lists friction loss for valves and fittings in equivalent length of pipe. But, I can't find a table on friction loss per length of pipe. A third of the book and most of the bibliography is devoted to the author's opinions on water politics, he is no Marc Reisner.

A great source for home water system design and storage.
This book covers nearly every situation one may encounter in water procurement,perhaps the only subject not covered is hauling water to a completely dry site.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Reference    7. Water Supply    8. Water-supply    9. DIY    10. Nature / Water Supply   

Reviews (10)

Brutal. Brutal brutal brutal.
In contrast to what others have written, this book is brutal. It isn't that Ms. Shiva doesn't have passion, she does. It isn't that she cannot write, she can. The book is brutal because it is painfully one-sided, seemingly written for no other reason than to pander to those that think as she does.
Right Versus Left
Vandana is an entertaining writer. She is passionate about injustice. Shiva is a welcome antidote to the rantings ofright wing ratbags from noisy think-tanks.
Earthy Wisdom About Water

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Subjects:  1. Environmental Science    2. Environmental Studies    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Pollution    6. Real Estate - General    7. Water    8. Water Supply    9. Water resources development    10. Water rights    11. Water-supply    12. History / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Book
The author has made a great effort of presenting the subject matter in an easy to understand and read format.The text covers basic laboratory determination of hydrogeological paratmers to complex calculations and modeling.This book is great because there have been times when I have been working on a problem (effective poristy, density and saturation) and have been able to find an example of it in this book.The text covers one dimensional steady state flow, transient flow, flow nets etc.. Cooper Jacob method, drawdown, well efficiency and numeric groundwater flow modeling.I highly recommend this book.Full of alot of great information and examples/problem sets. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Water Supply    4. Nature / Water Supply    5. Water supply & treatment   

Editorial Review

Water is a curious thing, observed the economist Adam Smith: although it is vital to life, it costs almost nothing, whereas diamonds, which are useless for survival, cost a fortune. In Read more

Reviews (8)

Good, but fails about Brazil
I'm an agronomist and I live in Brazil.I read this book, translated to the portuguese, here in Brazil.This book really has many usefull informations, about water suplly in the world.
A real eye opener
This is an excellent overview of the water problems plaguing the globe at the moment, as Marq de Villiers travels far and wide to show just how precious a resource water really is.Most importantly, he does so in a very accessible style of writing that personalizes so many of the issues surrounding the rapid depletion of aquifers by drawing on childhood memories of his home farm in South Africa and first hand sources in the current geopolitical battles.
A Non-Fiction Page turner (!)
This book is by far one of the most interesting, can't-put-it-down non-fictional books I've ever read. I know, I'm speaking in superlatives, but I can't say enough about this book.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Environmental Studies    3. Fish    4. Natural Resources    5. Nature    6. Nature/Ecology    7. Water Supply    8. Conservation of the environment    9. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    10. Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection   

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature/Ecology    3. Water Supply    4. Management of land & natural resources    5. Water supply & treatment   

Reviews (2)

Water on the High Plains
I spent my summers in the 1950's as a child on my grandmother's farm in western Kansas.I was always fascinated by the abundant water flowing out of the Caterpillar irrigation pump.It was frigidly cold on a west Kansas 100 degree day.My uncles would put a watermelon in a burlap bag and suspend it under the discharge water from the pump.The water could not have been much more than 60 degrees--or so it seemed.They used the old style irrigation method of that era: unlined ditches and irrigation tubes (first rubber, later aluminum).My older brother and I used to float down those ditches in inner tubes.So, I'm a little sentimental about the Ogallala.
How Water Makes the country Livable
From Texas to South Dakota, there is a 5 trillion gallon underground lake.From the time of the glaciers, this water source has made our nation livable ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agricultural Use Of Water Resources    2. Agriculture    3. Agriculture - Irrigation    4. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    5. High Plains (U.S.)    6. History    7. Irrigation    8. Irrigation water    9. Nature    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Water Resources Conservation    12. Water Supply    13. Miscellaneous Items    14. Nature / Water Supply    15. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (8)

Pumping too Much
Glennon writes in plain English to warn Americans of the growing danger under our feet.We are pumping groundwater, the gift of fresh and wholesome well water, at an unsustainable rate across the country.Glennon ties groundwater to surface water and illustrates in terms that are as accessible as they are urgent that the United States is headed for a crisis of our own making.
The biggest pump wins!
If we say "Glennon covers all the ground" in a book about water, will the reader be confused?Let's take the risk, since that is precisely what the author does in this excellent study.From the ways in which water collects or flows on the land's surface to the movement of water deep in the earth, Glennon carefully explains how water accumulates.He describes farm, mining and even water for scenic tourist views.Water consumption has been an economic, social and legal issue since the colonies were founded almost four centuries ago.
A book any hydrology student should read
I read this book during a summer program dealing with freshwater resources throughout the world.It not only helped my progression through the course, but also gave me a new perspective on water as a resource.In the US most of us do not give a second thought to the water we use in our everyday lives.Even in regions plagued by drought modern technology adds to the illusion that water is everywhere and limitless.However, any reader of this book will tell you differently.It takes you through different case studies through out the country where water use has had dramatic influence on the environment we live in.It explains not just the science of the situation but also the politics often behind the scenes as well.I would highly recommend this book to any student, professor, or hobbyist with an interest in hydrology. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Natural Resources    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Water Supply    6. Hydrology (freshwater)    7. Management of land & natural resources    8. Nature / Water Supply    9. Political Science / Public Policy    10. USA   

Reviews (2)

A Gentle Warrior

a wisdom runs through it
This book, like previous works by Sandra Postel, is a clarion warning call about the dangers in how we have been managing our waters. The message from this book that is of particular importance, is that truly successful, and therefore sustainable, environmental management is really just as much about managing people as it is about managing natural systems. For this reason, I have placed this important book on the reading list for my watershed management course at Harvard. And also, I am grateful that Sandra Postel agreed to write a front-end blurb for my recently published (by Green Frigate Books) book entitled Deep Immersion: The Experience of Water. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Ecosystem management    3. Freshwater ecology    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Real Estate - General    7. Rivers    8. Stream conservation    9. Water Supply    10. Water conservation    11. Hydrology (freshwater)    12. Management of land & natural resources    13. Nature / Rivers    14. Political Science / Public Policy    15. Pollution of rivers & water supplies    16. Sustainability   

Subjects:  1. Congresses    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Water Supply    5. Water-supply    6. Environmental Engineering & Technology    7. Nature / Water Supply   

Reviews (13)

Excellent case for public ownership of water services
This excellent book makes the case for public ownership and control over our water services.
NEVER AGAIN
This was, without question, one of the most depressing and boring books that I have ever read.I made the mistake of choosing this book for an analytical book report, and found it to be the most depressing choice I could have made.I wouldn't even reccommend this book to my worst enemy.

Addresses Threats to Our Most Valuable Global Resource
This was a great book that highlights the current threats to our global water supply. This book was particularly thorough in the analysis of the privatization of water resources. It explains the international institutions that prop up global water companies. I was very impressed with the extensive research that the authors must have put into this book - they used many examples of water issues from around the world. This book is a great introductory book for someone interested in becoming more knowledgable in water issues. It is also a great book for the general public to help them to understand more about a resource they probably take for granted. Don't buy bottled water! It is environmentally wasteful of resources and economically unjustifiable. It contributes funds to private companies and helps to support global water corporations! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Economic aspects    3. Globalization    4. International Economic Relations    5. International Relations - General    6. Natural Resources Management    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Political aspects    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Water Supply    12. Water-supply    13. Nature / General   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Industries - Energy Industries    4. National security    5. Nature    6. Protection    7. Security measures    8. United States    9. Water Supply    10. Water-supply    11. Business & Economics / Industries / Energy Industries   

Reviews (5)

Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands
First a confession: I am an Earth science teacher living in Tucson AZ (where the book was published.)Just last semester my students had made little model homes and subjected them to heat lamps of various angles in order to determine the coolest orientation of a house. In Rainwater Harvesting's, many text boxes, was our conclusion: an east-west house is cooler.Buy this book if you don't have the time to do all of these experiments yourself.It is full of meaningful information told through life examples, many well done illustrations and an appendix with all the equations.This book is an invaluable aid to anyone who wants to live lightly on the land, a self help guide for parched soil.

Practical tips on basic components of a harvesting system
The first volume of RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR DRYLANDS is out: GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO WELCOME RAIN INTO YOUR LIFE AND LANDSCAPE, and it offers the core of a three-volume guide on how to design and use sustainable water-harvesting systems in both home and community. Learn about soil, rainwater and plants and how they can contribute to harvesting techniques, benefit from over a hundred illustrations, and enjoy an approach which pairs stories of successful harvesters with practical tips on basic components of a harvesting system.
Even kids can follow these instructions!
This book is the best of both worlds, highly user friendly and highly informational.Its practical and straightforward nature is an antidote to inaction from overwhelm and confusion.It will definitely be an essential resource for our work at the Institute of Permaculture Education for Children and facilitate bringing Permaculture and Water Harvesting intoschools.
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Subjects:  1. Ecology    2. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Landscape    5. Life Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Science    9. Water Supply   

Reviews (1)

Kirkus Review
Another compelling reason not to breathe in L.A.
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Subjects:  1. California    2. Dust control    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Environmental aspects    5. History - General History    6. History - U.S.    7. Los Angeles    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Owens Lake Region (Inyo County)    11. United States - State & Local - Southwest    12. Water Supply    13. Water diversion    14. Nature / Water Supply   

Subjects:  1. Agricultural Use Of Water Resources    2. Economic aspects    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Environmental Science    5. Environmental Studies    6. Environmental aspects    7. History    8. Irrigation    9. Nature    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Real Estate - General    12. Reclamation of land    13. Water And Marine Resources Management    14. Water-supply    15. West (U.S.)   

Subjects:  1. Design and construction    2. Engineering - Hydraulic    3. General    4. Groundwater    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Nature    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Science    9. Water Resources Engineering    10. Water Supply    11. Wells    12. Sanitary & municipal engineering    13. Science-General    14. Technology / Engineering / Hydraulic