The UN designated the decade 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action - Water for Life. The move was initiated at the third World Water Forum in Kyoto, 2003, and it could prove the most significant and effective outcome of the triennial series of World Water For a yet. Its major aims are: (1) to promote efforts to fulfil recent international commitments, especially in the Millennium Goals, (2) to advance towards a truly integrated, int- national approach to sustainable water management, and (3) to put special emphasis on the role of women in these efforts. Even so, it faces tremendous and, as I write, increasing obstacles. The intense season of hurricanes and tropical storms in 2008 illustrated yet again not only the power of nature, but also the vulnerability of the poorer nations, like Haiti and Jamaica. New Orleans and Texas fared better, not because of the efforts of the International Decade for Natural Disasters (1990-2000) to increase preparedness, but more because the USA had learnt from its own experiences in Hurricane Katrina. The biggest obstacle of all is the burgeoning world population. It took off last century, but it is predicted to reach unimaginable heights this century: at least 10 billion by 2050, maybe 20 billion by 2100. Governments are powerless to halt it, even the Chinese. Achieving water security globally against this backdrop will be a Herculean task.

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Preface. 1. Overview: the major issues. Threats to Global Water Security: Population Growth, Terrorism, Climate Change, or Commercialisation?;J. Anthony A. Jones.- Less is More: Approaching Water Security and Sustainability from the Demand Side; D. Brooks and Jamie Linton.- Water Security Of Nations: How International Trade Affects National Water Security And Dependency; A.Y. Hoekstra.- Reducing The Risk: Drought Mitigation And The Economy Of Irrigation; S. Szalai and 1. Cselôtei.- Working Group I: Risk Assessment And Water Governance: Chair and rapporteur: David Brooks.- 2. Water quality and terrorism. Drinking Water Security In Crisis Situations From A Medical Perspective; A. E.Gurzau et al.- Biosensors In A System Of Instrumental Tools To Prevent Effects Of Bioterrorism And Automotive Control Of Water Process Purification; N.F. Starodub.-A High Sensitivity Nuclear Method For Real-Time Detection Of Elements And Compounds In Drinking Water And Soil; Ph. Buckup.- Natural Disasters And Surface And Subsurface Water Pollution Risk Assessment For Some Regions Of Georgia; T. Davitashvili.- Storm Surges On The Southern Coast Of Gulf Of Riga: Case Study Of The Lielupe River; T. Koitsova and I. Belakova.- Ground Water Vulnerability Assessment Of The Aparan Aquifer, Republic Of Armenia, And Its Representation In A 3-D Model; A. Aghinian.- Wastewater Modeling To Reduce Disaster Risk From Groundwater Contamination; N. Haruvy and S. Shaihevet.- Survival In Groundwater And FT-IR Characterization Of Some Pathogenic And Indicator Bacteria; z. Filip and K. Demnerova .- Working Group II: The Threat From Armed Conflict And Terrorism: Chairs and rapporteurs: S. Arlosoroff and T. Jones.- 3: Managing Extreme Events and Climate Change. Climate Change, Glacier Retreat, And Water Availability In The Caucasus Region; M. Shahgedanova et al.- Risk Management And Mitigation In Highly Urbanized River Basins; S. Pagliara.- Spatial Data Integration For EmergencyServices Of Flood Management; Gh. Stancalie et al.- The Use Of Remote Sensing And Gis Techniques In Flood Monitoring And Damage Assessment: A Study Case In Romania; A. Irimescu et al.- Flooding In Afghanistan: A Crisis; E. Hagen and John F. Teufert.- Human Factors In The Floods Of Romania; B. Constantin-Horia et al.- Development Of Dangerous Geodynamic Processes In The South Caucasus And The Problem Of Mitigating Their Consequences; I.V.Bondyrev and E.D.Tsereteli.- Threats In The Tienshan-Pamir Region Of Kyrgyzstan; I. Hadjamberdiev et al.- Long-Term Prognosis Of High Flows In The Mountain Rivers Of Georgia; T. Basilashvili.- Water Disasters In The Territory Of Armenia; T. Vardanian.- The Floods On The River Danube In 2006: Social Impact And Remedial PROCESSES; M. Lazarescu.- The Analysis Of Dangerous Hydrological Processes For The Terek River Basin; N.J. Alexeevskiy and N.L. Frolova.- Floods And Their Risk Assessment In East Siberia; L.M. Korytny et al.-Removing Chlorine-Containing Organic Compounds In The Environment After Floods; G. Torosyan and S. Harutyunyan.- Calibration Of An Atmosphericihydrological Model System For Flood Forecasting In The Odra Watershed; H.-T. Mengelkamp.- The Role Of Meteorological Models In The Prediction Of Weather Hazards - The European Approach; C. Cassardo.- Extending The Danube Flood Forecasting System With The Use Of Meteorological Ensembles; A. Csík and G. Bálint.-Working Group III: Threats Due To Climate Change Global Problems In A Regional Context: Chair and rapporteur: P. Robinson.- 4: Protecting Aquatic Ecosystems.Assessment Of Risks And Possible Ecological And Economic Damage From Large-Scale Natural And Man-Induced Catastrophes In Ecologically Vulnerable Regions Of Central Asia And The Caucasus; A.N. Valyaev et al.- Environmental Management Of Intentional Or Accidental Environmental Threats To Water Security In The Danube Delta; L-Daniel Galatchi.- Preventing Disaster On French Creek, One Of The Most