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The article examines the new efforts to manage freshwater use in a more sustainable manner in 2014. According to the author, about 72 percent of global groundwater abstraction takes place in only 10 countries, which include India, China, the U.S. and Pakistan. The author adds that the United Nations (UN) has recognised that more sustainably managed groundwater resources can significantly contribute to meet future water demand.

The article discusses importance of managing groundwater recharge and saving water for future usage. Topics discussed include recovery of evaporative losses from brine management systems, views of Dr Robert Maliva, principal hyrdologist at Schlumberger Water Services USA on the same and aquifers as potable water resources for urban areas.

The article discusses justifiable rules and regulations for water ethics and justice including advices for water management, applications offered and its importance. Topics discussed include avoiding of water conflicts on river Nile basin, water governance and distribution agreements and pragmatic approach for analyzing water distributions.

The article discusses the role of water accounting in the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals. Topics discussed include the definition of water accounting in the United Nations' international System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, the importance of water accounting at Murray-Darling Basin Authority according to its director Russell James and four key challenges faced in establishing the practice.

The article discusses the water management situation in Africa and possible solutions to resolve the challenges facing water supply and resource management in Africa. Topics covered include the impact of climate change on the water supply in Africa according to Cap-Net global Director Dr. Temba Gumbo, the best use of water to gain socio-economic benefits according to WaterNet Network Manager Dr. Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema and the important role of African water managers.

The article discusses the potential contribution of computer models and how those who are new to modelling can best start to make use of them. It states the seven principles for sustaining water supplies which include investing in water conservation, allocating a specific volume to each user then monitor and enforce, and building a shared vision. It adds that computer models helps water managers find ways to govern and manage water by teaching efficiency, productivity, and adequacy.

The article discusses the management of the cross-sectoral links between the demand for and supply of water, food and energy and their effects on the environment. Topics discussed include the maintenance of food, energy and water security without damaging the environment, sustainable development in developing countries, and the involvement of all relevant government agencies in the planning of infrastructure projects for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainability. INSETS: The value of networking;Nexus Dialogue to conclude with symposium.

The article discusses environmental concerns associated with the degradation of estuaries around the world. Topics explored include the classification of estuaries according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the significant role of estuaries in establishing connection between the ecosystem and biodiversity, and various factors that contribute to estuary degradation including freshwater inflow reduction, eutrophication and overfishing.

The article presents an interview with Jakob Lundberg, Jan Lundqvist and Junguo Liu, researchers of a study which suggests that water demand can be met by changing consumer behavior and limiting food waste. Lundberg addresses the question on how much adequate food for sustainable diets can be made available and accessed by the poor. They talk about the current strategies employed in securing food. Lundqvist speaks on a governance system needed for food and nutritional security.

The article presents an interview with Jeremy Bird, director-general of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). He addresses the intractable problem of over exploitation of groundwater in agriculture and how to promote sustainable agriculture. Bird suggests ways on how the challenges in the food for water gap may be met. He explains the role that water managers can play in implementing solutions.

The article discusses four scientific papers focusing on the impact of global warming on flood risk published as of August 2013. A study by University of Tokyo scientist Yukiko Hirabayashi and colleagues used 11 climate models to assess global flood risk for the end of the current century. Australia's National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility has commissioned an Australian National University (ANU) team to review lessons from the floods in Queensland and Victoria in 2010-2011.

The article focuses on the controversy over competing visions for hydropower projects on the Mekong River. The Xayaburi hydropower project is said to be the first dam on the Mekong mainstream. Michael Simon of the Mekong Water Governance Program emphasizes that better management is needed to ensure that natural resource-dependent livelihoods are managed in a way that gives food and economic security. The impact of dams on fish is also discussed.

The article explores the energy-water nexus in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to 21,135 billion cubic metres of renewable freshwater or about 38% of the water resources of the world. According to Green Growth, demand for water in the region is expected to increase in the coming years and that the rapid rate of economic development could also bring great demand for energy. ESCAP's Salmah Zakaria says governments should be in charge of national socioeconomic planning.

The article ponders on the impact of ecosystem services on the sustainability of water ecosystems and resources. It states that the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems may be interpreted as a balance between environment quality maintenance and the socio-economic needs of people. It also presents the views of Australian National University professor Steve Cork on the concept of ecosystem services.

The article explores plans by African governments to expand the area of irrigation by 6% annually at an estimated yearly cost of 42 billion U.S. dollars. Some of the national plans on irrigated agriculture are allegedly ambitious, and international donors willing to give for the establishment or refurbishment of irrigation schemes. The Great Ruaha and Mara rivers in East Africa reportedly illustrate the challenges ahead and potential solutions.

The article discusses the developments in the river management efforts in China. It cites the warning issued by Chinese Vice Minister of Environmental Protection Wu Xiaoqing in June 2012 that the country's rivers, lakes and seas are already heavily polluted. It presents the "River Health and Environmental Flow in China Project," which is a partnership between the International WaterCentre in Australia, the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

The article looks at the implications of the growth of unconventional gas production for the conservation of water resources. Unconventional gas production is defined as the new techniques for extracting natural gas from coal seams, shale and tight sands. It discusses the World Energy Outlook report on unconventional gas entitled "Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas," released by the International Energy Agency (IAE) in 2012.

The article discusses various reports on the state of water resources all over the world. It is noted that the Millenium Development Goal for drinking water has been achieved, improving drinking water sources of over two billion people. The "Global Water Security" report from the U.S. Director of National Intelligence noted that countries essential to national security will be affected by water problems, such as shortage, poor quality and floods.

The article focuses on the water-food nexus and offers advice from four experts on management of the links between water management and food security. The management of the nexus among food, water and other key sectors is reportedly the fundamental issue of water management. It is about collaboration, data sharing and proactive decision making that is not made in a vacuum. To move forward, several suggestions are offered, including identifying forces driving the adoption of nexus thinking.

In the article, the author discusses the innovative BioFresh project that is being implemented in Europe that aims to develop the tools required for better freshwater biodiversity conservation. He also cites the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) that was established by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for biodiversity conservation. The BioFresh project is led by professor Klement Tockner.

The article discusses the highlights of the scientific workshop at the Australian National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) in Queensland on June 23, 2011. Topics include the impact of climate change on riparian ecosystems, the ecological options for such ecosystems and how climate change adaptation strategies can capitalize on the role of riparian ecosystems. The event featured scientists including Samantha Capon of NCCARF and University of Washington professor Bob Naiman.

The article discusses the highlights of the Managing water-related energy use in cities workshop held in California in April 2011. Speakers emphasized how the interrelationship among water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions affect urban water management. The event also highlighted urban water management in California.

The article discusses the implications of various issues related to sustainable management for the international water management efforts in 2012. It criticizes the response of investors and governments concerning the findings of researches about the need for minimizing the impact of hydropower and dams on the environment in 2000. The author argues that the global interest to better manage water resources has improved but worldwide policy developers view it as a secondary concern to climate change.

The article examines the effectiveness of existing flood risk reduction strategies and proposes alternative measures. According to Australian professor Robyn Watts, the use of dams and levees to protect from flooding is unreliable in extreme events. Restoring floodplain functions is involved in the alternative soft path measures. Professor Max Finlayson explains the benefit of floods to the environment, particularly to life along the rivers and floodplains.

The article focuses on the 2010 meetings of the United National (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity to assess conservation targets and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to search for agreement for global response to climate change. The Strategic Plan adopted in UN Convention on Diversity includes climate change, habitat retention and biofuels. The UN Framework Convention led to a movement towards controlling greenhouse gas emissions and agreements on ecosystem management.

The article reports on the degradation of the World Heritage site The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and efforts of the Australian government to improve water quality of the reef. It discusses the effects of catchements' diffuse pollution on the reef. The increase in the amount of pollutants entering the Reef's lagoon including phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment discharge is also discussed. The Queensland and federal governments launched the ReefWater Quality Protection Plan (ReefPlan) in 2003.

The article discusses issues relating to the management of the entire water cycle of green water in response to the increasing water scarcity and the changing hydrology due to climate change. The effects of land use change on water flows are also discussed. Nations such as Australia, South Africa and Great Britain are adopting policies that aim to measure, regulate and manage green water consumption. In order to adapt to climate-induced changes to hydrology, it is recommended to require better management of water interception.

The article discusses the increase in reactive nitrogen in the Earth's environment and its impact and the role of the water sector in its removal. The author cites a study which claims that modern agriculture is a major cause of environmental pollution as it produces additional amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus that cause harm to the environment. The harmful effects of excessive nitrogen include the acidification of headwater streams, excessive algal blooms in lakes and estuaries, and low oxygen levels in bodies of water.

The article offers tips on how to conserve freshwater biodiversity, shared by leading freshwater conservation and management experts, worldwide. Margaret Catley-Carlson, member of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water, suggests to restore and to revamp the irrigation systems, to recycle water and replenish aquifers. Meanwhile, Dr. Stuart Orr, water footprint expert of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), recommends broader planning of water use.

The article focuses on a report made by the National Water Commission entitled "Australian Water Reform 2009," which focuses on the agency's assessment of the progress in implementing the National Water Initiative (NWI) in Australia. In 2004, Australia has agreed to comply with NWI after experiencing a severe drought in 2002. After four years of assessment, the report shows that the country's water is still in trouble due to unfinished and suspended water plans caused by deepening drought and low flows in Southern Austtralia.

The article explores the prospects for pumped storage hydropower schemes to store excess energy for later use in relation to the growth in variable electricity generation. The pumped storage hydroelectricity method was first used in the 1890s in Europe, but it is predicted that its use would increase by 60 percent. North America is also experiencing a pump storage renaissance, supported by the growth in variable generation from wind and solar power.

The article discusses the talks made by the Skukuza Freshwater Group and the International River Symposium in Australia in September 2009. It was stated in the talks that the expected climatic impacts include change in the distribution of rainfall and water availability, less glacial ice and snowpack in mountains and greater societal demand for water. A number of solutions are proposed to sustain freshwater rivers, including altering the operations of dams, retention of self-sustaining river ecosystems and restoration of river corridor forests.

The article discusses the highlights of a workshop hosted by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology held in Brussels, Belgium on June 2009. Topics covered include advanced assessments of projects that tried to establish the linkages between energy and water in the face of climate change. Among the presenters included Dr. Andre Howe from the Environment Agency in Great Britain, Dr. Adriana Hulsman from the KWR Research Institute in the Netherlands, and Dr. Carey W. King at the University of Texas in Austin.

The article discusses the highlights of the 5th World Water Forum that was held in Istanbul, Turkey. Participants showed renewed interest and commitment to the 1997 United Nations (UN) Convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses. A framework for common and cooperative management for the rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers is provided by the UN Watercourses Convention. Several countries agreed that the treaty is important for promoting sustainable management of water resources.

The article questions the achievement of the 5th Water Forum in Istanbul to bridge the gaps on international water issues as of June 2009. Director general of the council Ger Bergkamp reported their progress on implementing Integrated Water Resources Management, investing in agricultural demand management and building new infrastructure. Three of the most debated issues during the Forum are nclude climate change, the human right to water and transboundary water agreements.

This article examines prospects for freshwater protected areas. There are several threats facing freshwater ecosystems including species extinction, the use of two ecosystem services, and gaps in the distribution of protected areas, according to the "2005 United Nations Millennium Assessment." Harry Biggs of South Africa's Kruger National Park says half of the park's species are dependent on aquatic and riverine habitats which are being severely degraded by river management issues, excessive water diversions, sedimentation and pollution. In 2009, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revised its protected areas definition and guidelines to better embrace freshwater ecosystems.

The article tackles ways of measuring virtual water. Virtual water refers to the volume of water needed to produce the embedded water. The North Water Transfer Project in China exports water in virtual form to South China. Virtual water is also applied in water footprint assessments of the total water consumption of an entity like an individual, business, or country. Due to conflicts over water access, initiatives seeking to determining globally applicable standards for improved water management, metrics for their application by companies, and certification of good water stewards are being discussed.

This article presents several lessons about the over-allocation of water climate change seen in the Murray-Darling river basin in southeastern Australia. It begins with the lesson in implementing basic good governance of water. It then highlights the lesson in ensuring that trans-boundary waters have effective inter-jurisdictional agreements. In addition, the article notes the importance of allocating adequate water for environmental flows to sustain the chosen ecological character of the freshwater system.

The article discusses the debates on proposals for climate change, energy, and water. It cites the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the European Union (EU) Biofuels Directive, and the Chinese Government's comprehensive and multi-sectoral June 2007 national climate change plan. The International Hydropower Association (IHA) stated that hydropower can address the issues of renewable energy and poverty. The International Water Management Institute said that improving the production of ethanol will affect water use and food systems. Conclusion shows that managing climate change policy, energy planning, and water resources separately can produce conflicts in energy generation, food production, and freshwater environment.

The article discusses some expert opinion on the responses needed to the address the impact of climate change on water supplies. Holger Hoff, research fellow at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, recommends that professionals should obtain a range of plausible climate scenarios and associated impact assessments for water resources. It is also recommended that adaptation measures be robust in order to hold under the full range of scenarios. Henk van Schaik suggests improving the long terms of climate change on water availability.

The article discusses the highlights of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2008. Issues that have been tackled in the forum included how water stress poses a risk to economic growth, human rights, health of people and the environment, safety and national security. Brian Richter of the Global FreshwaterTeam of The Nature Conservancy discussed the need to protect environmental flows. He also cites The Conservancy's work on determining flow regime recommendations for the Savannah river in Georgia.

The article presents insights from key Australian experts on dealing with the rights of indigenous peoples to water. Researcher Dr. Sue Jackson said Australia has a poor record of recognizing indigenous water rights. Dr. Jessica Weir of the Australian National University said indigenous people warn against the convenience of blending indigenous rights with environmental concerns. Aboriginal leader Phil Duncan made a comment on the First Peoples' Water Advisory Council.

The article presents views of water industry experts on the impact of conferences on water management issues. Karin Lexen of the Swedish Water House explains that the World Water Forum offered an opportunity to discuss water management solutions. John Matthews of Freshwater Climate Change criticizes the operations of the Forum in the institutional level. Lifeng Li of the World Wildlife Fund Freshwater Programme describes the use of targets and indicators by these events for evaluating progress.

The article reports that drought and growing water scarcity are having an increasing impact in China. The long drought has forced the government to rethink its approach to the issue as a matter of urgency. According to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, the drought has affected over one million hectares of farmland, impacting on even the humid regions in China's south. A government media has attributed the drought to global warming and noted that since the 1990s, the lack of rain has reduced the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.1%.