Book excerpt: Containing research on recent technological and scientific developments associated with the management of surface and sub-surface water, this book consists of papers presented at the Seventh International Conference on Water Resources Management,. The biennial conference, first held in 1991, is one of several water-related conferences organised by the Wessex Institute of Technology. We have reached a point where water has become quite a precious resource, with communities around the world struggling to ensure adequate supply to their people. The research shared in this volume is an important contribution to the body of literature on the topic.The research covers: Water management and planning; The right to water and sanitation; Waste water treatment and re-use; Water markets, policies and contracts; Climate change; Irrigation; Urban water management; Hydraulic engineering; Water quality; Pollution contaminants and control; River basin management; Flood risk; Wetlands; Regional and geo-politics of water; Water resources and economics; Government and regulations.