Urban Water Supply and Sanitation: A Management Perspective

Access to water is a human right as declared by UNESCO. Civilizations have developed at the proximity of rivers and other fresh water sources. Water is a basic human need and its availability has governed the survival of human existence and, therefore, the civilizations. The provision of water supply and sanitation services in the urban areas continues to be one of the core functions of the urban local bodies. Rapid urbanization in the last few decades has brought the sector providing these services under stress. Improved investment in water sector infrastructure, which is accorded high priority, needs to be supported by efficient management of the day-to-day operation and maintenance. This poses a major challenge with fresher elements contributing to its efficacy. Training personnel in water management and bringing about awareness of the scarcity of water to public attention are the need of the hour. The book has tried to bring to the fore some of the challenges in water management. It provides the reader with various perspectives on the issues posed by water management and discusses the best practices being evolved by the local governments in consultation with their country’s Governments to overcome them.