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Securing water and wastewater systems: global perspectives
Author(s) -
Clark Robert M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/wej.12078
Subject(s) - safeguarding , water security , business , water resources , environmental planning , integrated water resources management , environmental resource management , environmental science , biodiversity , government (linguistics) , water supply , natural resource economics , water resource management , environmental engineering , ecology , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , nursing , biology , economics
There has been long‐standing concern that water systems are vulnerable to man‐made and natural threats. In the U nited S tates, after the events of 11 S eptember 2001, government planners focused on the possibility that the nation's critical infrastructure may be vulnerable to terrorist attacks. However, as demonstrated in this paper, there are many other factors that influence water supply security including lack of water resource availability, threats from point and nonpoint source pollution to water‐related ecosystems, and impact of climate change. In order to meet water security threats, there is a need to balance human and environmental water needs while at the same time safeguarding essential ecosystem services and biodiversity. Integrated water resources management may help achieve this balance. Examples are presented, which illustrate the diversity of water security throughout the world.