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World Water Development Report 2
WWAP, 2006.
The triennial UN World Water Development Report is a joint undertaking of 24 UN agencies comprising UN-Water in partnership with governments and other stakeholders, and coordinated by WWAP.

World Water Development Report
WWAP, 2003.
The World Water Development Report is a periodic, comprehensive review giving an authoritative picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources, and aiming to provide decision-makers with the tools for sustainable use of our water. The first edition of this report, Water for People, Water for Life, will be launched on World Water Day (March 22nd) at the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan.
Executive Summary Available online in 7 languages: Arabic ; German ; Japanese ; English ; Russian ; French ; Spanish.

World Water Development Report: Fitting the pieces together
WWAP, 2002.
This pamphlet was published by the World Water Assessment Programme. It offers an evaluation of our stewardship abilities, an authoritative picture of the state of the world's water resources, and a description of critical problems. The UN ACC Subcommittee on Water Resources has decided to begin the preparation of a periodic World Water Development Report (WWDR), with the first edition to be published in 2003.

Water Security: a Preliminary Assessment of Policy Progress since Rio
WWAP/WWDR, 2001.
This publication was released by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) for the International Conference on Freshwater (Bonn, December 2001). It reviews national policy developments since 1992, and prepares the way for the water agenda at Johannesburg and the 3d World Water Forum. Now also available online in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish on WWAP website.

Challenges to International Waters; Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective
The GIWA Final Report provides a comprehensive review of the most important findings from the GIWA regional reports. It summarises the major transboundary concerns and their environmental and socio-economic impacts. To better understand these concerns and develop solutions to address them, the Report identifies the root causes and draws policy relevant conclusions. It also outlines knowledge gaps which impede the sustainable management of international waters.

Modern Water rights
FAO, 2006.
Throughout history the fugitive nature of water has posed conceptual and practical challenges to lawmakers. The vital importance of water to human activity is such that most societies and cultures have sought to establish legal rules over its use and allocation. But its fluidity and constant renewal as part of the hydrologic cycle has necessarily limited the appropriateness of traditional legal approaches to natural resources such as the concept of ownership.

Unlocking the Water Potential of Agriculture
FAO, 2003.
On the occasion of the third World Water Forum (WWF-3), being held in Kyoto, Japan, from 16 to 23 March 2003, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) presented an overview of the priority issues facing the agricultural decision-makers of the world in the field of agricultural water development and their implications for the management of water resources in a wider context.
The publication is available for download in PDF format at:
ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/docs/unlocking_e.pdf

Groundwater and its susceptibility to degradation: A global assessment of the problem and options for management
UNEP, 2003.
ISBN: 92-807-2297-2.
The publication provides an overview of groundwater occurrence and of the main issues affecting its quantity and quality. Produced with the support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Belgian Development Corporation (DGDC), this review is intended for planners and other decision-makers at national/provincial government level and for the general reader.

Water for the Future: An annotated bibliography for World Water Day and the International Year of Freshwater
UNEP, 2003.
ISBN: 92 807-2306-3.
To mark World Water Day and the International Year of Freshwater, the United Nations Environment Programme has compiled a bibliography of more than 600 water publications, from a wide range of UN bodies and specialized agencies, featuring material in three languages (English, French and Spanish).

Atlas of the International Freshwater Agreements
UNEP, 2002.
ISBN: 9280722328.
The Atlas of International Freshwater Agreements was compiled under the direction of Aaron T. Wolf, Oregon State University, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "The World'S International Freshwater Agreements" was authored by Meredith A. Giordano and Aaron T. Wolf. "Thematic Maps: Visualizing Spatial Variability and Shared Benefits" was authored by Aaron T. Wolf.

Virtual Water Graphics:
An Overview of the State of the World's Fresh and Marine Waters
UNEP/GRID-arendal, 2002.
ISBN: 9280722360
This publication produces a clear overview, through a set of graphics, maps and other illustrations, of the state of the world's fresh and marine waters.
 

Water quality assessments:
A guide to the use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring
UNESCO/WHO/UNEP, 1992.
ISBN 0 419 21590 5
This second edition of a highly successful guide has been completely updated to take in the latest developments in strategies and methodologies. It gives comprehensive and practical advice on designing and setting up monitoring programmes to obtain valid data for water quality assessment in all types of freshwater bodies.

Water: a Key Resource for Sustainable Development - Report of the Secretary-General
UN, 2001. E/CN.17/2001/PC/ 17
Prepared by the ACC Subcommittee on Water Resources as task manager for chapter 18 of Agenda 21, with contributions from other United Nations agencies and international organizations. March 2001.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World
UN, 1997.
Preparation coordinated by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) for UN/UNDP/UNEP/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/World Bank/WHO/UNIDO. Also issued as Report of the Secretary General to CSD 5: E/CN.17/1997/9
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/water/Documents/ Comprehensive_Assessement_Freshwater_resources.pdf

Assessment of Legal Aspects of the Management of Shared Water Resources in the ESCWA Region
UN ESCWA, 2001. 142p.
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia has undertaken several activities to enhance the capacity of its member States to manage their shared surface and groundwater resources and strengthen their cooperation to achieve sustainable development and utilization of these resources.

WEHAB Framework For Action on Water and Sanitation
WEHAB, 2002.
This comprehensive paper on water and sanitation released during the panel discussion on water sanitation outlines the major areas of concern and need for action in the area of freshwater. Prepared by WEHAB for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. August 2002.

Water for life: Making it happen
WHO and UNICEF; 2005.
ISBN: 92 4 156293 5.
Basic sanitation must reach 138 million more people every year through 2015 – close to 2 billion in total - to bring the world on track to halve the proportion of people living without safe water and basic sanitation.

Global Water Outlook to 2025: Averting an Impending Crisis
IFPRI/IWMI, 2002. 36p.
ISBN 0-89629-646-6.
This outlook reports that if current trends in water policy and investment hold or worsen, we will soon face threats to the global food supply, further environmental damage, and ongoing health risks for the hundreds of millions of people lacking access to clean water.

World Water and Climate Atlas
IWMI, 1999.
Geographic Information System available on CD-ROM
Prepared by International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka
http://www.iwmi.org/

Free-flowing rivers: Economic luxury or ecological necessity?
WWF, 2006.
This report assesses the state of the world’s remaining free-flowing rivers and seeks to answer the question why we should maintain our last freeflowing rivers and whether this is a luxury or a necessity.As this report will show, few rivers remain freeflowing and a concerted effort for their conservation is urgently needed. WWF calls on governments to identify those free-flowing rivers that are ecologically important and that provide important services to people and to safeguard these rivers from being developed. WWF calls for the immediate protection of a number of rivers, including the Amur, the Salween, the Chishuihe and the Amazon.

Rivers at Risk: Dams and the future of freshwater ecosystems
WWF, 2004.
Prepared in cooperation with the World Resources Institute.
This report analyses the construction and planning of dams on a river basin scale and examines the risks of dams to freshwater ecosystems. It identifies 21 river basins at severe risk of ecological degradation as they have six or more dams over 60 m high planned or under construction in addition to existing dams.