Dictionary of Water Engineering

The Dictionary of Water Engineering provides an essential, up-to-date and economically priced source of information on all aspects of water engineering and technology. Emphasis is placed on the needs of poorer communities and on the importance of environmental sustainability. The entries cover the many facets of water engineering and technology including: water supplies for urban and rural communities, wastewater systems, water resources, hydrology, irrigation, river improvement, drainage, erosion, groundwater exploration, hydrography, flood protection, hydraulic machines, dams and water power. The dictionary is designed to meet the needs of engineers, technicians and students throughout the world and all those with a serious interest in water. It is a practical handbook of down-to-earth use for all those involved in sustainable development programmes from planners to field workers.

Charles Kerr one of the contributors, was a civil engineer and a specialist in water supply. He graduated from the University of Cape Town in civil engineering. He spent most of his career working abroad. Since retiring from full-time consultancy work he became well-known as an expert in low-cost water supply. For the last 15 years of his life he was the technical editor of Waterlines, the journal for low-cost water supply and sanitation. Charles Kerr died in 2001 while this dictionary was in the final stages of preparation.

Ken Nelson studied civil engineering at Cardiff University, where he was awarded the Colonel Page Prize in Engineering. In 1950 he left for Australia, where he worked on irrigation, water supply and river improvement schemes, mostly in Victoria. He was employed as Engineer-in-Charge, Farm Water Supplies. Since retiring from full-time work he has worked as a consulting engineer and technical writer.

Robert Legg one of the contributors, graduated in civil engineering from the University of St Andrews, and did postgraduate work at Imperial College London. Nearly all his career has been spent with consulting engineers, mainly on work related to water resources, hydraulic structures and applied hydrology. He has worked in many parts of the world including Canada, Indonesia, USA, Central Africa and the Western Arctic. He is a member of the British Dams Society and the British Hydrological Society.