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Few would dispute that urban water systems should be both healthy and sustainable. Ideally, along with efficiency, these would be central pillars in every urban water strategy.

TitleUrban water : towards health and sustainability
Publication TypeBook
Year of Publication1997
AuthorsMcGranahan, G, Kjellen, M
Paginationvi, 54 p. : 2 boxes, 1 fig., 4 tab.
Date Published1997-06-01
PublisherStockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Place PublishedStockholm, Sweden
ISBN Number918871442X
Keywordshealth aspects, policies, sdiurb, sdiwrm, sustainability, urban areas, water costs, water supply charges, water-related diseases
Abstract

Few would dispute that urban water systems should be both healthy and sustainable. Ideally, along with efficiency, these would be central pillars in every urban water strategy. Unfortunately, the narrow pursuit of health can undermine the sustainability of water systems and vice versa. Such trade-offs must not be rationalized away, but circumvented or adapted to. It is crude policies, such as promoting health by providing free water for all, or promoting sustainability by charging everyone high prices, that create the steepest trade-offs. Trade-offs are far less evident with more sophisticated policies, targeting particular uses or uses, and built upon a better understanding of water-related disease, hydrology, markets and policies. Our ignorance is no excuse for inaction: there are many obvious things that need to be done. But nor is the need for action an excuse for remaining ignorant: there remains a great deal of relevance to learn regarding urban water, and how it relates to both health and sustainability. (author's abstract)

NotesBibliography: p. 48-54
Custom 1205.40, 210

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