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Concentrating on water resources in Mexico, which are threatened by steeply rising consumption, pollution and climate change, this book provides a multidisciplinary approach to hydrological processes and their interaction with climate, soil and biota.

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Water resources in Mexico are threatened by scarcity, pollution and climate change. In two decades water consumption doubled, producing water stress in dry seasons and semi-arid and arid regions. Water stress rises due to physical and economic stress. In seven parts a multidisciplinary team analyzes hydrological processes in basins and their interaction with climate, soil and biota. Competing water use in agriculture, industry and domestic needs require savings, decontamination processes and desalination to satisfy the growing demand. Water quality affects health and ecosystems. This creates conflicts and cooperation that may be enhanced by public policy, institution building and social organization.

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Part I: Hydrological processes, management of basins and their interaction with climate, soil and biota.- Part 2: Uses of water, availability and alternative sources.- Part 3: Quality of water, pollution and health.- Part 4: Social effects, conflicts and hydro-diplomacy.- Part 5: Public policy, institutions and legal aspects.

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érsula Oswald Spring, Professor at UNAM-CRIM, xi co; first UNU-EHS chair on social vulnerability; she writes on sustainability, development, gender, disaster, poverty and colla borates with pea sants.

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