FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

 

LEXICON OF
WATER SOFT PATH KNOWLEDGE

Vol. 1, 2007

Introduction and Project Overview

 

Welcome to the Lexicon of Water Soft Path Knowledge.  This publication represents a collection of key written works of the Water Soft Path Project, research and knowledge to date, undertaken by a team of researchers from various academic institutions across Canada and led by Friends of the Earth Canada.  This project, being the first in the world to undertake comprehensive soft path analysis, was somewhat constrained by data availability and time.  Although the individual reports represent the authors “best efforts”, some refinements are likely. 

 

The lexicon is actually a series of documents which address different aspects of water management challenges and their soft path alternatives.  We hope the lexicon will be a useful resource for emerging and seasoned practitioners as well as planners, policy makers, government officials.  The document entitled “Reflections of the Project Research Director, Dr. David Brooks” describes how the Water Soft Path research and the FOE project evolved.    We hope this collection will stimulate readers to begin the process of applying a water soft path in their own jurisdictions.

 

The lexicon is organized as follows:

The Soft Path for Water in a Nutshell

By Oliver Brandes and David B. Brooks

 

Figure of Spectrum of Water Management Approaches

Source: The Soft Path for Water in a Nutshell 

FOUNDATIONS OF THE WATER SOFT PATH

The papers in this section represent early Water Soft Path work and the evolution of the major Water Soft Path project itself.

Water Soft Paths for Ontario: Feasibility Study

By David Brooks, Robert de Loe, Bob Patrick,  and

Gregory Rose

CASE STUDIES

Sustainable Water Policy: The Soft Path for Water – Ontario Case Study

By Paul Kay, Elizabeth Hendriks and  Nabeela Rahman

 

A Soft Path for Water Case Study – The Town of Oliver British Columbia

By Oliver Brandes, Tony Maas, Adam Mjolsness and Ellen Reynolds

POLICY

These papers provide insights into how we can get Water Soft Paths adopted into public policy regimes along with some of the key barriers and challenges that may accompany this approach.

Overcoming Barriers on the Path to Water Conservation

By Sarah Jordaan and Carla Stevens

WATER SOFT PATHS – IN PRACTICE

The papers in this section provide some specific examples of how the Water Soft Path approach can be used in achieving long-term sustainability.  Examples are drawn from the pulp and paper industry, ice rinks and water/wastewater reuse in buildings.

 

Saving Water by Changing Our Diets

By Anja Grauenhorst and David B. Brooks

The Pulp and Paper Industry

By Elizabeth Hendriks

WATER SOFT PATH - TOOLS

The Water Soft Path Scenario Builder

By Tony Maas, Carol Maas and Katherine Zaletnik

How To Create a Water Soft Path Plan

By David B. Brooks and Oliver Brandes

COMPLEMENTARY READING

The papers in this section were written prior or parallel to, but outside the Water Soft Path Project.  They provide broader perspectives of how Water Soft Paths relate to our society.

Changing Perspectives-Changing Paradigms

By Oliver Brandes and Lynn Kriwoken

For more information about this CD-ROM or to obtain hard copies contact Lynn Barber at barberl@foecanada.org or (613) 241-0085 ext 22, 1-888-385-4444

www.foecanada.org

 

With financial support from

A project led by

Member of