Pressure on water resources and management in Latin American cities provide major challenges. This work reviews key aspects and presents case studies on topics such as groundwater management, green growth and water services, inequalities in water supply, financing of services and flood management.

Introduction Ismael Aguilar-Barajas, Jürgen Mahlknecht, Jonathan Kaledin, Marianne Kjellén and Abel Mejía-Betancourt Part 1: Water, Cities and Financing 1. Water, Cities and Sustainable Development: Setting the Scene Ismael Aguilar-Barajas 2. Why Does Understanding the Urban Water Link Matter? Abel Mejía-Betancourt 3. Challenges and Policy Options for Financing Urban Water and Sanitation Anthony Cox and Peter Börkey Part 2: Managing Water and Sanitation Services 4. Urban Water Management in São Paulo to Achieve Universal Access to Water Supply and Sanitation Services Dilma Pena 5. Water Services in Lima, Peru: Understanding the Linkages between Urban Development, Social Inequality and Water Antonio A.R. Ioris 6. Urban Wastewater Governance in Latin America: Panorama and Reflections for a Research Agenda Raul Pacheco-Vega 7. Issues and Challenges for Water Supply, Storm Water Drainage and Wastewater in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area Polioptro F. Martínez and Erick R. Bandala 8. Urban Groundwater Supply in Latin American Cities: Panorama and the Cases of Mexico City and São Paulo Jürgen Mahlknecht and Ricardo Hirata and Rogelio Ledesma Part 3: Climate Change, Risk Management and Planning 9. Flash Floods in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Mexico: Lessons from Hurricane Alex Nicholas P. Sisto and Aldo Iván Ramírez 10. The Rio Bogotá Environmental Recuperation and Flood Control Project Carlos Costa Posada, Carlos Felipe Urazán Bonells and Edder A. Velandia Durán 11. Protection and Environmental Restoration of the Pichincha Slopes in Quito, Ecuador Xavier Vidal, Lucía Burgos and Othón Zevallos 12. Water Resources Management and Climate Change Adaptation in the Río Grande Basin, Argentina: A Case Study Introducing the Hydro-BID Modelling System Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, Eugene Brantly, Marcelo Borsellino, Edgardo Castellano, Robert Dykes, Fekadu Moreda, Raúl Muñoz-Castillo, Jay Rineer, Bill Wheaton, and Alan Wyatt Part 4: Green Infrastructure Development 13. Green Growth and Water Services in Latin American Cities Greg Browder 14. Water Funds as a Tool for Urban Water Provision and Watershed Conservation in Latin America Fernando Veiga, Alejandro Calvache, Silvia Benitez, Jorge León and Aurelio Ramos 15. Green Infrastructure and Watershed Protection in US Cities: Insights for Latin America Jonathan Kaledin

"Latin America’s water challenges are growing by the minute. Rising urban populations in the region are placing water management at the top of the decision-makers’ agenda. This book provides a timely and thorough overview of the issues faced by business, households and governments in the areas of financing and managing of water and sanitation, risk management and infrastructure development. With a policy-oriented focus and insightful case studies, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to address the water challenges in Latin American countries. It also contains compelling evidence and arguments for a broader audience interested in sustainable development in a key region of the world." – Ángel Gurría, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. "A very timely and important publication for a highly urbanized Latin America. It will help the region move forward in reducing the gap in access to water and sanitation in cities and to advance social inclusion, integration and the effective reduction of inequalities." – Enrique García, Executive President, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America. "This much-needed book fills a gap in the literature on water and urban development in Latin America. It highlights both the successes and the challenges still to be addressed within detailed case studies of a range of cities. It also serves as a very useful guide to innovations being applied, especially the much needed multi-sectoral and regional perspectives and the institutional and financial challenges they pose. It includes a consideration of climate change adaptation and of green infrastructure for water and waste water management. Essential reading for those working in Latin America but with much to teach other countries struggling to improve water and sanitation provision in urban areas." – David Satterthwaite, Fellow, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)."This book makes an excellent contribution to the understanding of the complexities, challenges and policy options surrounding the provision of water and sanitation services in Latin America. It is a book to be read by a wide array of audiences: government officials, academics, practitioners, and all of those interested in the future of cities and their connection with water and sustainable development." – Axel Charles Dourojeanni Ricordi, Senior Consultant, Fundación Chile, and former head of the Division of Natural Resources and Energy, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.