Main problems of water use and transfer of technology

Man and water are closely related in a dualistic manner: on one hand water has great influence on man's welfare and social development, on the other man's activities greatly affect water as such. Comparing the present and future water needs with water availability, the author concludes that some world regions should be considered as truly water scarce at least during the next generation. Man's activities create water problems which tend to change with time and exhibit a regional pattern. Many problems can be avoided if advance impact studies were made more regularly for planned water-related activities and projects. The author ends by stressing that differences in climate, hydrology, culture and dominating water problems tend to complicate the important process of transfer of knowledge between temperate and tropical countries.