Water and Cities in Latin America ─ Challenges for Sustainable Development

Approximately 80 per cent of the population of Latin America is concentrated in urban centres. Pressure on water resources and water management in cities therefore provide major challenges. Despite the importance of the issues, there has been little systematic coverage of the topic in book form.

This work fills a gap in the literature by providing both thematic overviews and case study chapters. It reviews key aspects of why water matters in cities and presents case studies on topics such as groundwater management, green growth and water services, inequalities in water supply, the financing of water services and flood management. Detailed examples are described from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, and there is also a chapter comparing lessons which might be learnt from US cities. Contributing authors are drawn from both within and outside the region, including from the Inter-American Development Bank, OECD and World Bank to set the issues in a global context.

Ismael Aguilar-Barajas is Professor of Economics and Research Associate, Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Jurgen Mahlknecht is Executive Director, Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Jonathan Kaledin is Founder and Principal of the 11^th Avenue Strategies consulting firm and a member of the Stockholm International Water Institute's Associate Program.

Marianne Kjellen directs the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI, the Stockholm International Water Institute.

Abel Mejia-Betancourt is Senior Water Advisor for the Latin American Development Bank (CAF) and former Water Manager at the World Bank.