Water, Environment and Sustainability



Professor Miquel Salgot
Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua de la Universitat de Barcelona
Unitat d'Edafologia, Facultat de Farmàcia.
Joan XXIII, s/n. 08028 Barcelona,
SPAIN
E-mail: salgot@ub.edu
 

Abstract: After searching the convenient definitions of water, environment and sustainability; it seems evident that there are common links among the three terms; links leaded by the energy spent when water moves the biogeochemical cycles in the Earth surface.

Depending on the amount of energy spent in the water cycle a society can be defined as sustainable in which respects to the water and environment interface. Nevertheless, the relationships between water and the environment are far more complex and involve an important amount of societal activities, always with the background of energy and pollution.

The relationships water-environment are examined in a general and particular way, defining finally the present status of the interface and the ways the water cycle can be sustainable and the present mistakes. There is not a single solution but a series of different approaches which combined increase the sustainability of the water cycle, especially in areas with water scarcity.