Making the Most of the Water We Have

Demand for water is one of the major challenges of the current century, but past approaches are no longer sufficient. Based on the "soft path" approach to the energy sector, a transition is now under way to a soft path for water. This approach starts by ensuring that ecosystem needs for water are satisfied and then undertakes a radical approach to reducing human uses of water by economic and social incentives, including open decision-making, water markets and equitable pricing, and the application of super-efficient technology, all applied in ways that avoid jeopardizing quality of life. This book is the first to present and apply the water soft path approach. It has three aims: to bring to a wider audience the concept and the potential of water soft paths; to demonstrate that soft path analysis is analytical and practical, and not just "eco-dreaming"; and to indicate that soft paths are not only conceptually attractive but that they can be made economically and politically feasible. These goals are reflected by the scope of the book which is organized around the three aspects of any soft path: a vision of a sustainable water future based on the soft path concept; an analytic method to define alternative routes to get to that future (most literally, the soft paths), as illustrated by case studies in Canada and elsewhere: and a tool kit for planners and other practitioners.

David B. Brooks was Canada's first Director of Energy Conservation, and later spent 15 years with IDRC (international Development Research Center) on overseas projects on energy, water and natural resource management. He was one of the founders of Friends of the Earth Canada and now serves as its Senior Advisor-Fresh Water. Oliver M. Brandes is Water Sustainability Project Leader and Associate Director at the Polis. Project on Ecological Governance, University of Victoria, Canada. Stephen Gurman is an environmental consultant and writer, based in Ottawa, Canada.