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Water Books, Magazines and Films
Recent Additions to this Page
Design for Water by Heather Kinkade-Levario, 2007
Subtitled Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, and Alternative Water Reuse has chapters on each of the aforementioned and has over thirty (30) case studies; including systems installed at private homes, commerical entities and public facilities. The book has one chapter (i.e. 30 pages) dedicated to the components of rainwater systems and has many, many pictures and diagrams of rainwater system components throughout the book. Most of the case studies provide a picture of the system, a diagram of how it works and overall system specifications.
An excellent reference and learning guide for those that like to see what others have done.
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Unquenchable by Robet Glennon, 2009
 "Author Robert Glennon connects the dots between our water woes and climate change, energy, growth, the environment, and agriculture. He makes a compelling case that we need to re-think how we use this prized resource and provides a number of thought-provoking solutions. Informative, insightful, and very interesting." (U.S. Senator Mark Udall, Colorado )
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Desperate quest for water (Excerpt from "What Matters," the latest book by "Day in the Life" series creator David Elliot Cohen) Water is the key to life. It is fundamental to all human activities. >> Download Water Chapter
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Design for Water by Heather Kinkade-Levario, 2007
Subtitled Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, and Alternative Water Reuse has chapters on each of the aforementioned and has over thirty (30) case studies; including systems installed at private homes, commerical entities and public facilities. The book has one chapter (i.e. 30 pages) dedicated to the components of rainwater systems and has many, many pictures and diagrams of rainwater system components throughout the book. Most of the case studies provide a picture of the system, a diagram of how it works and overall system specifications.
An excellent reference and learning guide for those that like to see what others have done.
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Handbook of Water Use and Conservation: Homes, Landscapes, Industries, Businesses, Farms by Amy Vicks, 2002.
 An engineer and water resources consultant, Vickers has written a comprehensive, nontechnical handbook on water use and efficiency measures for homeowners, businesses, farmers, and industries. The first chapter outlines ten key planning steps to a successful conservation program, such as goals, incentives, benefits and costs, and evaluation. The chapter on efficiency measures for residential and domestic water use is packed with charts and tables detailing how changing to high-efficiency clothes washers, water-efficient dishwashers, and low-volume toilets, showerheads, and faucets saves both water and money. Efficiency measures for landscape water use include native and low-water-use plants, irrigation scheduling, and the use of mulches. The section on industrial, commercial, and institutional water measures covers laundromats, swimming pools, cooling and heating systems, and zoos, while efficiency measures for agriculture include drip irrigation, tailwater reuse, surge valves, and canal management. Among the useful appendixes are a list of web addresses of conservation organizations, a table for calculating water-cost savings based on volume of use, sample worksheets for water audits for a residence, an irrigational setting, and an industrial/ commercial/institutional setting. The attractive layout includes numerous charts, photographs, and sidebars containing useful data, and a glossary of terms and a detailed index complete the work. This is a clear, concise, and well-written work for all audience levels on a topic that will be of interest to academic, public, and special libraries. It may be a bit pricey, but it will be the definitive work on this topic. Review by Library Journal
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The Drinking Water Book - How to Eliminate Harmful Toxins from Your Water by Colin Ingram, published 2006.
Ever wonder what might be in your drinking water or what might be the most cost effective method to insure safe, clean drinking water for you, your family or your customers; then the The Drinking Water Book is for you. This book should be titled handbook, because it is a book you will continually referred to as you deal with water quality issues or questions.
It is a excellent source of information on what type of filtration systems remove what types of minerals and chemicals from water. Additionally, it deals wtih the complex topic of using multiple types of filters and the projected impact of differing combinations. Unique to this book is a brief summary of the different levels of effectiveness of the various alternatives and the relative costs of each option.
The Drinking Water Book is valuable guide that you will likely refer to again and again.
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Every Drop for Sale: Our Desperate Battle Over Water Our Desparate Battle over Water in a World About to Run Out by Jeffrey Rothfeder.
Every Drop for Sale dives right into some of the large water issues facing us now: privatization of water, the scramble to buy up limited water rights, and the recent conflicts that have occurred over water. This book incudes an abundance of examples of the challenges being faced around the globe on our looming epic water problems and highlights the interconnected of water (i.e. it's fluid nature that is not bound by arbitrary political borders).
Rothfeder showcases several geographic regions as examples of areas where chonic water challenges need to be addressed. In the Middle East for example, the region's water use will have doubled from 1975-2025; and yet this is occurring in one of the most arid regions of the world where several of the major countries in the area depend solely on "fossil water" which is being rapidly depleted. The likely result will be increased conflict in that area; unless solutions are found.Desalination is briefly discussed in the book as one of the potential solutions.
This book is intended to be a call to action to this epic challenge and provides compelling arguements in support of it's objective.
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The Rough Guide to Climate Change by Robert Henson
This guide provides a bal anced look at global warming, presenting both side of the prevailing argruements. This densely packed book covers the likely effects of global warming, possible solutions and is crammed with interesting data and sidebar stories.
A great read for anyone interested in understanding some of the issues facing us as the planet warms.
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Rainwater Harvesting for the Mechanically Challenged by Suzy Banks, 2002.
If you are just getting into Rainwater Catchment or just want a fun, short - just a little over 100 pages long - introduction to the subject; this is the book for you!
This guide is enjoyable to read, yet packed with information on the various components and options of rainwater systems. The first rainwater harvesting book everyone should buy or check out from the library.
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Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands (Vol. 1): Guiding Principles to Welcome Rain into Your Life And Landscape by Brad Lancaster
 Read full review of this great book.
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Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands (Vol. 2): Water-Harvesting Earthworks by Brad Lancaster
 Read full review of this great book.
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Tapped Out by Dr. Paul Simon, 1998
 One of the first books on the looming water shortage. Dr Paul Simon, former US Senator, states the case in 1998 why the United States and the rest of the world is facing a water crisis. In a word - population explosion. Some of the fasting growing areas of the world; including in the United States, are in areas with little to no extra water (i.e. Las Vegas, Phoenix, southern Florida, etc.). These areas are dealing with the short term problem by moving water, in some cases hundreds of miles, and by limited conservation programs. But the population growth trend continues today and these efforts will not be enough. Dr. Simon makes a very passionate argument for aggressive investment in desalination technology as a way to forestall the crisis. A few key passages out of the book:
- A water crisis of catastrophic proportions will explode upon us
- It is simple, more people consume more water. Less people consume less.
- Water quality and water quantity problems can not be separated
- Demand management is a key tool to conservation. It is a question of political will - RAISE THE PRICE of water and people and companies will conserve
- Every leader in the Middle East can talk about water. Almost no leader in the US can talk about water.
- Has the world's only superpower lost its courage, its vision, it willingness to lead?
Unfortunately, this book is as relevant today as it was in 1998. The US government has not even started to address this crisis that is already upon us.
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Water Consciousness Edited by Tara Lohan, published 2008.
 This book is a wonderful compilation of essays by noted experts on water, and covers our current state and potential solutions. All the typical water shortage problems are covered in the first portion of the book, but it then drives into to detail solutions that are working today to address our water crisis.
High Impact Water Use versus Low Impact Water Use Policy alternatives are explored and contrasted. Water use policies of cities like Las Vegas at 165 gallons per person per day, versus cities like Tucson at 114 gallons per person per day, are explored and contrasted. These cities and others are pursuing water policies, or not, to reduce water use in current and future developments. Both are desert cities, with one mainly focusing on increasing supply at all costs, while the other is focused on dramatically reducing demand.
Rainwater Harvesting is discussed as one of the solutions being implemented, not only in the US but around the world. The concept of Water Neutral developments is introduced and several examples are explored. RWH is a key part of these designs.
Other interesting topics explored in the book: Developing Water Consciousness – Eight Building Principles by Tony Clarke and Fourteen Actions You Can Take To Protect Our Water. The book also includes a hardcopy of the Water Use calculator published by www.H2oConserve.org and is wonderfully indexed, footnotes as well as including a list of handy water-related resources.
It is a wonderful book jammed with interesting water-related information as well as stunning pictures. Truly a wonderful book for those interested in water and or those interested in exploring solutions to some of the current environment issues we are facing as a civilization.
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Water Follies by Robert Glennon, published 2002.
If you are interested in rivers, groundwater and surface water stories, this is the book you have been wanting to read. This book provides great evidence of the direct linkage between ground water and surface water. It is crammed full of water-related stories on the:
- Santa Cruz River in Tuscon
- Upper San Pedro River in Arizona
- Tampa Bay, FL
- San Antonio River in Texas
- Ipswish River in Massachusetts
- Cosumnes River in California
- Straight River in Minnesota
- Hopi Reservation in Arizona
- Grand Canyon
The book is full of information and data on our rivers. It also is a great book for those involved in planning water conservation efforts. There are numerous stories of how best intentions went awry. It provides accounts on the difficulties that must be addressed if surface and ground are to be conserved. Population growth and pro-development are powerful forces that will naturally work against the best efforts of any conservation plan. Building allies and collaboration can be used to successfully address these forces.
A few great quotes from the book include:
- In monarchies streams belong to the crown.. [b]ut in a republic they belong to the people, and ought forever to be kept as public property for the benefit of all who use them, and for them alone, such use to be under public supervision and control. - I wonder if anyone has bothered to explain to the Bush administration the difference between a monarchy and a republic. Sorry I could not resist.
- Refiling lakes [from ground water] is like a bouncing a check and, when the bill comes due, writing a second check drawn on the same account.
The book also in includes a full list of sources used in the book, a partial listing of water conservation organizations in US, a primer glossary of terms and acronyms.
Water Follies is a sobering account of what is happening with groundwater and it's impact on our precious rivers and water supplies. It is a great reference and a entertaining; although not light, read.
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Unquenchable by Robet Glennon, 2009.
"Author Robert Glennon connects the dots between our water woes and climate change, energy, growth, the environment, and agriculture. He makes a compelling case that we need to re-think how we use this prized resource and provides a number of thought-provoking solutions. Informative, insightful, and very interesting." (U.S. Senator Mark Udall, Colorado )
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Water Storage - Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds by Art Ludwig, published in 2005
 This book is a how-to book on using tanks, cisterns, ponds and aquifiers for water storage. It includes explanations and all the math behind correctly sizing various types of water storage alternatives. Additionally, it includes a full explanation of the different tank types (i.e. glass, wood, plastic, ferrocement, steel, rock, etc.). A entire chapter is dedicated to How to Make Ferrocement Tanks for those that want to build a tank.
A great read for anyone interested in understanding some of the issues facing us as the planet
This book includes numerous example systems with specifications; including slow sand filtration system, very low pressure systems, urban apartment complex and a high-end house. These examples provide an excellent guide to those interested in designing or understanding non-traditional systems.
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International Plumbing Code 2006 Softcopy 
The International Plumbing Code (IPC) is usually used in most of the Eastern states, but a few of the Western states as well. Check with your local building authorities if you are unsure. This manual contains gutter and pipe sizing tables.
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Uniform Plumbing Code 2006 - Looseleaf
 The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) is usually used in a lot of the Western states, but a few others as well. Check with your local building authorities if you are unsure. This manual contains gutter and pipe sizing tables.
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Green Plumbing Supplement
 TThe GPMCS is the first and only one publication that spells out the best sustainable plumbing and mechanical building practices in simple, straightforward code language.
The Green Supplement is not a "greener" version of the Uniform Codes, but rather a separate document establishing requirements for green building and water efficiency applicable to plumbing and mechancial systems. This new guide includes information on rainwater harvesting systems and grey water systems.
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Magazines
Green Building Press - Information and publications to help you create healthy and ecological homes and buildings. Publisher of Green Building, Green Living and other sustainable magazines and publications from the UK.
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Water Films
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Poisoned Waters - In Poisoned Waters, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith examines the growing hazards to human health and the ecosystem. "The '70s were a lot about, 'We're the good guys; we're the environmentalists; we're going to go after the polluters,' and it's not really about that anymore," Jay Manning, director of ecology for Washington state, tells FRONTLINE. "It's about the way we all live. And unfortunately, we are all polluters. I am; you are; all of us are." >>Watch It >> Buy DVD
Running Dry in the American Southwest A documentary directed,  written, and produced by Jim Thebaut, president of The Chronicles Group, a Los Angeles based non-profit public information/education film production company. Featuring narration from Emmy® Award-winning actress Jane Seymour, “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” is a definitive look at how the water crisis affects the American Southwest states and its escalating economic toll. As in the rest of the world, significant water problems exist in the Southwestern states because of severe drought, urban development, agricultural uses and population growth. The overwhelming need to solve these issues in the United States and the world is crucial through education and planning. The severity of the American water crisis cannot be underestimated. >> more >> View Trailer
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FLOW: For the Love of Water Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. nterviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?" Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround. >> more >> View Trailer
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Harvest Rain - The Movie In harvesting rainwater, the overwhelming majority of the attention is focused on active rainwater collection systems - that is systems with tanks and pumps. Passive rainwater catchment is too often overlooked, and yet, a very impactful and important practice. An extremely very well made DVD by The Cuenca Los Ojos Foundation highlights this connection and how it can actually heal the land if properly managed. The foundation works to preserve and restore the biodiversity of the borderland region between the United States and Mexico through land protection, habitat restoration and wildlife reintrodion. >> Read the Review and Find Out How to Order
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YouTube Rainwater Harvesting Video - A beautifully done commerical for Rainwater Harvesting, made in India.
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Rain Garden Video - A great, short video on the benefits of rain gardens.
Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In - A 9-minute on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” Exhibit" and at the U.S. EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.
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