Includes bibliographical references (p. 299-315) and index.

Past, present, and future: introduction to the water crisis -- Quantity and quality: introduction to water resource science -- Supply and demand: water availability and water use -- Water, water, everywhere: dealing with floods -- Nor any drop to drink: water scarcity -- The end of stationarity: water in an era of global change -- Soft and hard: technologies for sustainable water management -- Human and ecosystems: finding the right balance -- Overconsumption and underconsumption: water for households and health -- Crops and drops: getting more from less in agricultural water use -- Growth and sustainability: using water more wisely in industry -- Basic need and economic good: the contested role of economics in water management -- Conflict and cooperation: transboundary and intersectoral water management -- Conclusion: the imperative of better management.