Water Accounting: International Approaches to Policy and Decision-Making

One of the most pressing global issues of the 21st century is the scarcity of water of a quality appropriate to ensure economic, environmental and social sustainability. In addressing the issue through policy and management, stakeholders recognize the importance of high-quality information. They also recognize the need for this information to be reported systematically to ensure that it is relevant, reliable, understandable and comparable over time. That is the role of water accounting systems. Many water accounting systems have developed over time. This book explores what types of accounting systems are in use, how they are used, and what problems they can resolve. It takes an international perspective, with content and authorship spanning the continents of America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. It also addresses the role of water accounting in decision-making at individual, organizational, industry, national and international levels.