Regional Water Security provides new research on policy innovations that promote the application of demand management and green infrastructure (GI) in managing water resources across regions sustainably. In particular, with regional water security around the world at risk from climatic and non-climatic challenges impacting water quantity and water quality, this book, in addition to providing examples of demand management and GI being implemented in various locations globally, contains in-depth case studies that illustrate how regions, of differing climates, lifestyles, and income levels, have implemented policy innovations that promote the application of demand management and GI to achieve regional water security for humans while protecting and restoring the natural environment.

Regional Water Security will be of interest to regional water resource managers, town and regional planners, resource conservation managers, policymakers, international companies, and organizations as well as environmental NGOs, researchers, and graduate and undergraduate students.

About the Author

Robert C. Brears is the founder of Our Future Water, Mark and Focus, and Mitidaption. He has published widely on water security, water resources management, and related issues, and has conducted field research worldwide, including Antarctica.

Acknowledgments vii

1 Introduction 1

2 Water Security 6

Part I Demand Management21

3 Water Allocation 23

4 Water Augmentation 39

5 Water Efficiency 56

6 Water Reuse and Water Recycling 73

Part II Green Infrastructure89

7 Green Buildings and Green Streets 91

8 Green Parks and Urban Forests 110

9 Water Bodies 128

10 Agriculture and Forestry 144

Part III Case Studies, Best Practices, and Conclusions161

11 Case Studies of Regions Implementing Demand Management and Green Infrastructure to Achieve Regional Water Security 163

12 Best Practices 183

13 Conclusions 198

Index 207