Confronting the Nation's Water Problems
Confronting the Nation's Water Problems

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-10-14

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 030916589X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In order to confront the increasingly severe water problems faced by all parts of the country, the United States needs to make a new commitment to research on water resources. A new mechanism is needed to coordinate water research currently fragmented among nearly 20 federal agencies. Given the competition for water among farmers, communities, aquatic ecosystems and other users-as well as emerging challenges such as climate change and the threat of waterborne diseases-Confronting the Nation's Water Problems concludes that an additional $70 million in federal funding should go annually to water research. Funding should go specifically to the areas of water demand and use, water supply augmentation, and other institutional research topics. The book notes that overall federal funding for water research has been stagnant in real terms for the past 30 years and that the portion dedicated to research on water use and social science topics has declined considerably.

Watershed Management for Potable Water Supply
Watershed Management for Potable Water Supply

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2000-02-17

Total Pages: 569

ISBN-13: 0309172683

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In 1997, New York City adopted a mammoth watershed agreement to protect its drinking water and avoid filtration of its large upstate surface water supply. Shortly thereafter, the NRC began an analysis of the agreement's scientific validity. The resulting book finds New York City's watershed agreement to be a good template for proactive watershed management that, if properly implemented, will maintain high water quality. However, it cautions that the agreement is not a guarantee of permanent filtration avoidance because of changing regulations, uncertainties regarding pollution sources, advances in treatment technologies, and natural variations in watershed conditions. The book recommends that New York City place its highest priority on pathogenic microorganisms in the watershed and direct its resources toward improving methods for detecting pathogens, understanding pathogen transport and fate, and demonstrating that best management practices will remove pathogens. Other recommendations, which are broadly applicable to surface water supplies across the country, target buffer zones, stormwater management, water quality monitoring, and effluent trading.

New Evaluation Procedures for a New Generation of Water-related Projects
New Evaluation Procedures for a New Generation of Water-related Projects

Author: Ronald G. Cummings

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 1996-01-01

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13: 9780821338292

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This groundbreaking study presents the results of a large survey of more than 400 industrial firms in Russia conducted by the World Bank in mid-1994. The survey examined the role and organization of the enterprise sector, which is a key issue in transition economies, particularly in Russia, where a concerted attempt has been made to change ownership arrangements and hence corporate governance. More than half the firms surveyed are in the private sector; the rest remain in state hands or are partially privatized. A major focus of the book is to understand whether the Russian privatization has led to improvements in corporate governance. The authors identify some initial positive changes but also find that the manner in which privatization has occurred has not yet had a strong effect on the internal operations of Russian industrial firms. However, they do find evidence from their sample of significant growth in new firms. The volume examines the positive and negative aspects of restructuring, employment and workers compensation issues, budget constraints, the effects of privatization on employee behavior, and future prospects for Russian firms.