Water Quality Impacts of the Energy-Water Nexus

Energy and water have been fundamental to powering the global economy and building modern society. This cross-disciplinary book provides an integrated assessment of the different scientific and policy tools around the energy-water nexus. It focuses on how water use, and wastewater and waste solids produced from fossil fuel energy production affect water quality and quantity. Summarizing cutting edge research, it describes the scientific methods for detecting contamination sources in the context of policy and regulations. The authors highlight the growing evidence that fossil fuel production, from both conventional and unconventional sources, leads to water quality degradation, while regulations for the water and energy sector remain fractured and highly variable across and within countries. This volume will be a key reference for scholars, industry professionals, environmental consultants and policy makers seeking information on the risks associated with the energy cycle and its impact on the environment, particularly water resources.

• Evaluates the global water footprint of fossil fuels
• Considers the water quality implications of conventional and unconventional fossil fuels developments such as fracking
• Provides new perspectives on the energy-water nexus through combining the most up-to-date scientific literature with new data evaluation and an overview of relevant policy and regulations
• Describes the latest scientific tools used for detecting water contamination sources