The availability of water is a strategic factor for our quality of life, for industrial production, and for the development of agriculture. Moreover, not only water quantity is important, but also water quality. The unchecked continued growth in population, industry, agriculture and our overall standard of living has created significant water deficiency, and consequently, water stress worldwide. Not only are the traditional arid or semiarid countries suffering from water stress, but also advanced countries throughout the world, even those which enjoy relatively high rainfall.

While the careful management of natural water sources remains the primary source of fresh water, technological advances in desalination and water treatment and reuse have become fundamentally important in supporting our water needs. Such technological developments certainly provide the promise of sufficient water; however, our continued industrialization and agricultural development means that such advances need to keep abreast of old and new problems related to pollution, including those from the pharmaceutical and electronics industries, the usage of pesticides and various forms of environmental maltreatment. Of growing importance is the fact that not only water scarcity, but also the scarcity of the various metals characterizing innovative materials and innovative products for water treatment, will also become strategically important in the near future.

Therefore, an holistic approach to solve the water problem, taking into consideration all the different aspects from water availability to water purification, water distribution, water reuse and water management, is imperative and indispensable.

The central aim of the new journal Applied Water Science is to realize this strategy, covering all aspects of water science, management and engineering, offering a comprehensive overview of the existing problems and possible solutions with the application of water science and technology presented within the framework of efficient and sustainable engineering and management strategies.

We consider this holistic approach to be a unique aspect of this journal, and we look forward to close collaboration between our International Scientific Board and the scientific community in order to achieve this goal. Applied Water Science is a fully funded open access journal, and we sincerely thank the King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia for sponsoring this venture. Their aim is to encourage the rapid development of water science and related technologies to achieve a future of plentiful fresh water in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, throughout the Middle East and indeed the world. Applied Water Science is therefore a completely open forum, free for all to read and to submit their papers to, providing maximum exposure for the science published in its pages and ensuring the rapid development of the journal and applied water science.

Welcome to Applied Water Science: Management and Infrastructure.