Water plays a critical role in supporting life and ecosystems. However, a combination of ever-growing demands on water resources and low water use efficiency has caused severe water and environmental stresses, increasing the risk of contamination. An interdisciplinary, integrated and balanced approach is required to secure the safety of the water supply and water environmental management systems.The development of a sustainable, multifaceted and multilevel water cycle system is a new and fast-growing focus in the field of water. The water cycle has traditionally referred to the natural circulation system, where water evaporates, condenses and falls to the ground in a continuous cycle. However, attention is shifting to the water meta-cycle, where water has multiple interactions with the environment, ecology, hydrology, hydraulics, civil engineering, meteorology and topography under different scales and dimensions. Understanding this water meta-cycle, the processes involved, and their potential impact is a scientific challenge of enormous importance. Progress is needed to advance our knowledge and to inform sustainable development.Water Cycle is an interdisciplinary open access journal that publishes top-tier original research in all areas of water cycles, including meta-cycles. It examines their relationship to science, technology, society, economics, health, culture, policy, regulation and strategy. It also offers water academics, engineers and practitioners the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience.Papers will report significant advances in a wide range of categories including (but not limited to):The different dimensions of water cycles: natural cycle, social cycle, ecological cycle, engineering cycle, cascading cycle and process cycle.The different scales of water cycles: water meta-cycle, local cycle, regional cycle, watershed cycle and environmental cycle.Water conservation in agricultural, industrial, domestic and municipal applications.Water treatment, recycle and reuse for different water resources, including wastewater, industrial wastewater, drinking water, reclaimed water, rainwater, seawater, mine water and brackish water.The water cycle-environment-ecosystem nexus.The water-waste-soil-atmosphere nexus.How water cycles interlink and interact with elements, materials and energy flows.Water mediated material transformation, element cycle and energy flow.The interactions, synergies and coordination between water conservation, reuse and the water cycle.Water system analysis, water policy and water management.Editorial Board
In association with the International Water AssociationFor the purpose of sustainable water resources management, understanding the multiple connections and feedback mechanisms between water resources and the economy is crucial. Water Resources and Economics addresses the financial and economic dimensions associated with water resources use and governance, across different economic sectors like agriculture, energy, industry, shipping, recreation and urban and rural water supply, at local, regional and transboundary scale.Topics of interest include (but are not restricted to) the economics of: Aquatic ecosystem servicesBlue economyClimate change and flood risk managementClimate smart agricultureCoastal managementDroughts and water scarcityEnvironmental flowsEutrophicationFood, water, energy nexusGroundwater managementHydropower generationHydrological risks and uncertaintiesMarine resourcesNature-based solutionsResource recoveryRiver restorationStorm water harvestingTransboundary water allocationUrban water managementWastewater treatmentWatershed managementWater health risksWater pollutionWater quality managementWater securityWater stressWater technology innovationWater Resources and Economics aims to contribute to the advancement of integrated water accounts and hydro-economic modeling at relevant temporal and spatial scales, water resources valuation and pricing, the design and evaluation of water policy instruments, including water markets and payments for watershed services, and the economics of public water supply, sanitation and waste water treatment in developed and developing regions. We are particularly interested in publishing high quality examples of innovative interdisciplinary collaborations between economists and water engineers and scientists. Both conceptual/methodological as well as applied research papers are welcome.Water Resources and Economics is one of a series of specialist titles launched by the highly-regarded Water Research. The journal is targeted at economists, engineers, natural and social scientists interested in water resources management. Papers should deal with the changing value of water in its different uses and the evaluation of economic tradeoffs, aiming for the creation of water resource management strategies that are ecologically, socially and economically sustainable.The other specialist title in the series is Water Resources and Industry, which focuses on the role that industry plays in the exploitation, management and treatment of water resources.In association with International Water Association (IWA).
