Preface
Water is vital for the life and health of people and ecosystems, and comprises a
basic requirement for the development of countries. Water resources, and the
related ecosystems that are sustained by water, are under threat from pollution,
unsustainable use, land-use changes, climate change and many other forces. Water
security in the 21st century was identified as the common goal of water
management in the Ministerial Declaration of The Hague on Water Security in the
21st Century at the 2nd World Water Forum in March 2000.
Preserving the quality of our water resources is one of the main challenges
that we face in seeking water security. Preserving the quality of our water
resources, in essence, means integrated water-resources management, which
includes the planning and management of water-resources and land. This takes
account of social, economic, and environmental factors; and integrates surface
water, groundwater, and the ecosystems through which they flow. It also
recognizes the importance of water and wastewater treatment to achieve good
water and environmental quality.
In European countries rich with water resources, like Austria, and countries of
semiarid regions, like Israel, the quality of water resources is of paramount
concern. In Israel, allocation of good-quality water resources is vital for the future
development of the country and is one of the central topics of the peace
negotiations with its neighbors. Preservation of the quality of mutual water
resources of different European countries is crucial for harmony and good
relationships, as well as for appropriate development and human health. Efficient
treatment and recycling of water is a challenge for technology as well as for
management.
European countries, like Austria, while still enjoying a surplus of water of
generally excellent quality, faces increasing pollution of groundwater resources
from agriculture and industry. With respect to the quality of surface waters,
deteriorated environmental quality of rivers due to a modified flow regime and
river regulation is a more serious problem than chemical pollution.
The 4th International Austrian-Israeli Technion Symposium, which was held
in Vienna, Austria during April 23 - 25, 2001, aimed to bring together experts
from the international scientific community to present recent research results on a
wide range of issues related to "quality of water resources", including:
• Preserving the quality of groundwater
• Preserving the quality of surface water
• Management of water resources quality
• Improving the water quality
• Wastewater recycling
Water is vital for the life and health of people and ecosystems, and comprises a
basic requirement for the development of countries. Water resources, and the
related ecosystems that are sustained by water, are under threat from pollution,
unsustainable use, land-use changes, climate change and many other forces. Water
security in the 21st century was identified as the common goal of water
management in the Ministerial Declaration of The Hague on Water Security in the
21st Century at the 2nd World Water Forum in March 2000.
Preserving the quality of our water resources is one of the main challenges
that we face in seeking water security. Preserving the quality of our water
resources, in essence, means integrated water-resources management, which
includes the planning and management of water-resources and land. This takes
account of social, economic, and environmental factors; and integrates surface
water, groundwater, and the ecosystems through which they flow. It also
recognizes the importance of water and wastewater treatment to achieve good
water and environmental quality.
In European countries rich with water resources, like Austria, and countries of
semiarid regions, like Israel, the quality of water resources is of paramount
concern. In Israel, allocation of good-quality water resources is vital for the future
development of the country and is one of the central topics of the peace
negotiations with its neighbors. Preservation of the quality of mutual water
resources of different European countries is crucial for harmony and good
relationships, as well as for appropriate development and human health. Efficient
treatment and recycling of water is a challenge for technology as well as for
management.
European countries, like Austria, while still enjoying a surplus of water of
generally excellent quality, faces increasing pollution of groundwater resources
from agriculture and industry. With respect to the quality of surface waters,
deteriorated environmental quality of rivers due to a modified flow regime and
river regulation is a more serious problem than chemical pollution.
The 4th International Austrian-Israeli Technion Symposium, which was held
in Vienna, Austria during April 23 - 25, 2001, aimed to bring together experts
from the international scientific community to present recent research results on a
wide range of issues related to "quality of water resources", including:
• Preserving the quality of groundwater
• Preserving the quality of surface water
• Management of water resources quality
• Improving the water quality
• Wastewater recycling