Understanding and Managing Urban Water in Transition

Abstract

Understanding and managing water in the urban context is of vital global importance. Over half the world�s population now lives in urban environments (United Nations 2013) and the percentage is set to increase over coming decades. Quality urban living, like life anywhere, requires adequate quantities and qualities of water to support a range of social well-being, economic development, and environmental health. Managing water in cities, along with their linked energy, food, materials, environmental systems, and socio-economic systems is, therefore, an integral component of global sustainability challenges (Sheehan 2007; see also Kenway and Lant 2015, Chap. 28, this volume).