This comprehensive reference on worldwide freshwater resources and the political, economic, scientific and technological issues associated with them, provides both detailed analysis of the most significant trends and events and up-to-date data available on water resources and their use. More than 50 charts, tables and maps present current data on a range of factors including: the availability and use of running water; numbers of threatened and endangered aquatic species, dam and desalinization capacity worldwide; trends in several devastating water-borne diseases; changes by region in global precipitation patterns since 1900; and more. The volume is intended as a reference for water resources specialists with both governmental organizations, resource economists, planners, public policy and public administration experts, environmental lawyers, students and anyone concerned with water issues.