"Climate change, population increase, and the demands made by the growing number of people adopting urban lifestyles and western diets threaten the worlds supply of freshwater, edging us closer to a global water crisis, with dire implications for agriculture, the economy, the environment, and human health. Completely revised and updated, The Atlas of Water is a visual guide to the state of this life-sustaining resource. Using vivid graphics, maps, and charts, it explores the complex human interaction with water around the world. This atlas addresses all the pressing issues concerning water, from water shortages and excessive demand, to dams, pollution, and privatization, all considered in terms of the growing threat of an increasingly unpredictable climate. It also outlines critical tools for managing water, providing safe access to water, and preserving the future of the worlds water supply. " -- Publisher's description.

Maggie Black has written on international issues for UNICEF WaterAid and the Global Water Partnership, among others. Her books include Water: A Matter of Life and Health (with Rupert Talbot), Water Life Force, the No-Nonsense Guide to Water, and The Last Taboo: Opening the Door on the Global Sanitation Crisis (with Ben Fawcett).