Study objectives were to describe metropolitan water management; determine strengths and weaknesses of institutional arrangements; evaluate means of financing water programs; and suggest ways management could be improved. Field studies were done in Macon, Georgia, Lansing, Michigan, Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina. Emphasis was placed on differences among areas in terms of physical, economic, and political context. Depth interviewing was employed for 190 public officials, citizen groups, and general informants. Water management included water supply, wastewater management, storm drainage, flood hazard reduction, and recreation. Water management is treated as a social process. Roles of participants, nature of decisions and nondecisions, actions and inactions, functional priorities, intergovernmental relations, management style, and public participation are discussed. (Author)