This book provides an overview of facts, theories and methods from hydrology, geology, geophysics, law, ethics, economics, ecology, engineering, sociology, diplomacy and many other disciplines with relevance for concepts and practice of water resources management. It provides comprehensive, but also critical reading material for all communities involved in the ongoing water discourses and debates.The book refers to case studies in the form of boxes, sections, or as entire chapters. They illustrate success stories, but also lessons to be remembered, to avoid repeating the same mistakes. Based on consolidated state-of-the-art knowledge, it has been conceived and written to attract a multidisciplinary audience.The aim of this handbook is to facilitate understanding between the participants of the international water discourse and multi-level decision making processes. Knowing more about water, but also about concepts, methods and aspirations of different professional, disciplinary communities and stakeholders professionalizes the debate and enhances the decision making.

Introduction and Guide to the Handbook of Water Resources Management:       Discourses, Concepts and Examples.- Water a unique phenomenon and resource.- Water and its Management: Dependence, Linkages and Challenges.- A drop in the ocean: on writing histories of water resource management.- Water Ethics.- Water law and rights.- Water discourses.- The water security discourse and its main actors.- Water governance and policies.- Economics of water security.- Drivers, pressures and stressors: the societal framework of water resources management.- Water resources management: integrated and adaptive decision making.- Observation, monitoring and data management.- Assessment of water quantity.- Assessment of land/catchment use and degradation.- Freshwaters: global distribution, biodiversity and ecosystem services, and human pressures.- Water, energy and food relations in Gulf Cooperation Council.- Examples of water resources management options.- Examples of water and land use management.- Water and energy.- Water management and stewardship in mining regions.- Water-related hazard and risk management.- Groundwater and conjunctive use management.- Storage Reservoir Operation and Management.- Complexity in water management and governance.