ABSTRACT
Increasing demand for water, higher standards of living, depletion of resources of acceptable quality, and excessive water pollution due to agricultural and industrial expansions have caused intense social and political predicaments. Since the beginning of the 19th century, the population of the world has tripled, nonrenewable energy consumption has increased by a factor of 30, and the industrial production has multiplied by 50 times. Although progress has improved the quality of life, it has caused significant environmental destruction in such a magnitude that could not be predicted.
