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Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis

Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis Jerry Yudelson . New Society Publishers , Gabriola Island , 2010 , xix + 281 pp. Price AUD $42.95 . ISBN 978 0 86571 670 4 ( paperback ). The challenges posed by prolonged droughts and population growth have focused attention on urban water management in Australia and overseas in recent years. It is now widely recognised that treating water as a limitless resource has had serious environmental impacts and is no longer a viable approach. In this context, Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis is an important contribution to the discussion of sustainable water management. Part I (The coming water crisis) of the book provides a thorough analysis of current urban water management practices and patterns of water use in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. It details current problems with resource constraints and the impacts of severe droughts on water security using case studies from Australia and the United States. These examples highlight the contributions that water conservation programs, demand management, improved price structures, and regulatory reform can make to improving water efficiency. The author’s arguments are supported with data on water use reductions achieved by each of these approaches. While the impacts of current urban water management on water security are well covered, the ecological impacts of current practices are given only limited attention. It is noted that the need to provide water for protection of ecosystem services will place additional constraints on supplies in the future; however, present implications on river flows, wetland and groundwater‐dependent ecosystems are largely outside the scope of the book. Part II (The colors of water) examines current and emerging technologies for conserving water supplies and obtaining new sources of water. There are chapters devoted to greywater reuse, storm and rainwater harvesting, recycling of sewage effluent and desalination. There is also a chapter titled ‘Zen water’ devoted to ‘living buildings’ that are self‐sufficient and have zero net water use. Case studies provide successful examples of each of these approaches in use. Part III (Preventing the next urban water crisis) draws together all of these elements to present a framework for sustainable urban water management. Rather than claiming, there is a single solution to urban water problems; it is made clear that there are a wide range of options available that can be tailored to suit prevailing circumstances. It is noted that these approaches will allow more water to be devoted to protecting and restoring ecosystems; however, this is not explored in detail. The book makes a strong case that sustainable water options offer cheaper and more effective sensitive solutions to water shortages than large‐scale supply augmentations such as new dams and desalination. The use of detailed case studies and examples of successful projects highlights the viability of the approaches recommended by the author. More detailed consideration of the ecological benefits of these approaches would strengthen the author’s case. A further issue that could have been covered in more detail is the role of political and bureaucratic decision making in influencing the choice of urban water management options. Choice of options between improved water conservation, pricing reform and supply augmentations such as new dams, desalination and recycling can be influenced as much (or more) by political imperatives as resource management considerations. This may not always result in the selection of the most sustainable or cost‐efficient options. The book also gives insufficient attention to potable reuse of wastewater and its potential contribution to urban water management. This can be a sensitive issue, and a thorough examination of potable reuse and key issues surrounding it is much needed and would greatly enhance the book. A slight irritation is occasional switching between metric and imperial units depending on whether figures presented are derived from North American, Australian or European sources. Overall readability could be improved by including conversions so that metric and imperial figures are provided in all cases. Apart from these criticisms, Dry Run is an excellent contribution to sustainable water management and addressing the challenges posed by population growth and climate change. While readers looking for a thorough analysis of the ecological impacts of urban water use may be disappointed, those seeking information on emerging technology and opportunities in sustainable water management will find it a valuable resource. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Ecological Management & Restoration Wiley

Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis

Martin, Leigh J.
Ecological Management & Restoration , Volume 13 (3) – Sep 1, 2012
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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 2012 Ecological Society of Australia
ISSN
1442-7001
eISSN
1442-8903
DOI
10.1111/j.1442-8903.2012.00669.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Jerry Yudelson . New Society Publishers , Gabriola Island , 2010 , xix + 281 pp. Price AUD $42.95 . ISBN 978 0 86571 670 4 ( paperback ). The challenges posed by prolonged droughts and population growth have focused attention on urban water management in Australia and overseas in recent years. It is now widely recognised that treating water as a limitless resource has had serious environmental impacts and is no longer a viable approach. In this context, Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban Water Crisis is an important contribution to the discussion of sustainable water management. Part I (The coming water crisis) of the book provides a thorough analysis of current urban water management practices and patterns of water use in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. It details current problems with resource constraints and the impacts of severe droughts on water security using case studies from Australia and the United States. These examples highlight the contributions that water conservation programs, demand management, improved price structures, and regulatory reform can make to improving water efficiency. The author’s arguments are supported with data on water use reductions achieved by each of these approaches. While the impacts of current urban water management on water security are well covered, the ecological impacts of current practices are given only limited attention. It is noted that the need to provide water for protection of ecosystem services will place additional constraints on supplies in the future; however, present implications on river flows, wetland and groundwater‐dependent ecosystems are largely outside the scope of the book. Part II (The colors of water) examines current and emerging technologies for conserving water supplies and obtaining new sources of water. There are chapters devoted to greywater reuse, storm and rainwater harvesting, recycling of sewage effluent and desalination. There is also a chapter titled ‘Zen water’ devoted to ‘living buildings’ that are self‐sufficient and have zero net water use. Case studies provide successful examples of each of these approaches in use. Part III (Preventing the next urban water crisis) draws together all of these elements to present a framework for sustainable urban water management. Rather than claiming, there is a single solution to urban water problems; it is made clear that there are a wide range of options available that can be tailored to suit prevailing circumstances. It is noted that these approaches will allow more water to be devoted to protecting and restoring ecosystems; however, this is not explored in detail. The book makes a strong case that sustainable water options offer cheaper and more effective sensitive solutions to water shortages than large‐scale supply augmentations such as new dams and desalination. The use of detailed case studies and examples of successful projects highlights the viability of the approaches recommended by the author. More detailed consideration of the ecological benefits of these approaches would strengthen the author’s case. A further issue that could have been covered in more detail is the role of political and bureaucratic decision making in influencing the choice of urban water management options. Choice of options between improved water conservation, pricing reform and supply augmentations such as new dams, desalination and recycling can be influenced as much (or more) by political imperatives as resource management considerations. This may not always result in the selection of the most sustainable or cost‐efficient options. The book also gives insufficient attention to potable reuse of wastewater and its potential contribution to urban water management. This can be a sensitive issue, and a thorough examination of potable reuse and key issues surrounding it is much needed and would greatly enhance the book. A slight irritation is occasional switching between metric and imperial units depending on whether figures presented are derived from North American, Australian or European sources. Overall readability could be improved by including conversions so that metric and imperial figures are provided in all cases. Apart from these criticisms, Dry Run is an excellent contribution to sustainable water management and addressing the challenges posed by population growth and climate change. While readers looking for a thorough analysis of the ecological impacts of urban water use may be disappointed, those seeking information on emerging technology and opportunities in sustainable water management will find it a valuable resource.

Journal

Ecological Management & Restoration – Wiley

Published: Sep 1, 2012

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