Water Quality Impacts of the Energy-Water Nexus

An exploration of the energy-water nexus and how fossil fuels energy production affects the quality and quantity of water resources.

This cross-disciplinary book reviews how water use, and wastewater and waste solids produced from fossil fuels energy production affect water quality and quantity. Summarizing key research on the energy-water nexus in the context of current policy and regulations, it provides a key reference for scientists, engineers and policy makers.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.