Sustainability and Sustainable Water Management

In this study, sustainability and sustainable development concepts are briefly introduced. After giving some information on sustainable water management concept relating to sustainable development, information about important issues of water management such as hydrological cycle, human intervention on hydrological cycle, water treatment, wastewater collection and treatment are given. Virtual water and water footprint concept is important about indirect use, import or export of water. If in water scarce locations main income depends on export of high water demanding agricultural or industrial products, it will make water shortages even more pronounced and that is not sustainable in terms of water management as well as in terms of development. Therefore integrated water and wastewater management, demand side management approach should be adopted. Water resources protection and investment on water resources structures are important for clean and good quality water supply instead of only investing water treatment plants and processes. Wastewater collection and treatment parts are also important; however before treatment water should be used multiple times for varying purposes. In this work it is also emphasized that investigations about wastewater treatment methods, water, materials and energy recoveries should be carried out in order to improve physical, chemical and biological processes involved.