Approximately 80 per cent of the population of Latin America is concentrated in urban centres. Pressure on water resources and water management in cities therefore provide major challenges. This work reviews key aspects of why water matters in cities and presents case studies on topics such as groundwater management, green growth and water services, inequalities in water supply, the financing of water services and flood management.

Ismael Aguilar-Barajas is Professor of Economics and Research Associate, Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Jürgen Mahlknecht is Executive Director, Water Center for Latin America and the Caribbean, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico.

Jonathan Kaledin is Founder and Principal of the 11th Avenue Strategies consulting firm and a member of the Stockholm International Water Institute's Associate Program.

Marianne Kjellén directs the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI, the Stockholm International Water Institute.

Abel Mejía-Betancourt is Senior Water Advisor for CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and former Water Manager at the World Bank.

Introduction Ismael Aguilar-Barajas, Jürgen Mahlknecht, Jonathan Kaledin, Marianne Kjellén and Abel Mejía-Betancourt Part 1: Water, Cities and Financing 1. Water, Cities and Sustainable Development: Setting the Scene Ismael Aguilar-Barajas 2. Why Does Understanding the Urban Water Link Matter? Abel Mejía-Betancourt 3. Challenges and Policy Options for Financing Urban Water and Sanitation Anthony Cox and Peter Börkey Part 2: Managing Water and Sanitation Services 4. Urban Water Management in São Paulo to Achieve Universal Access to Water Supply and Sanitation Services Dilma Pena 5. Water Services in Lima, Peru: Understanding the Linkages between Urban Development, Social Inequality and Water Antonio A.R. Ioris 6. Urban Wastewater Governance in Latin America: Panorama and Reflections for a Research Agenda Raul Pacheco-Vega 7. Issues and Challenges for Water Supply, Storm Water Drainage and Wastewater in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area Polioptro F. Martínez and Erick R. Bandala 8. Urban Groundwater Supply in Latin American Cities: Panorama and the Cases of Mexico City and São Paulo Jürgen Mahlknecht and Ricardo Hirata and Rogelio Ledesma Part 3: Climate Change, Risk Management and Planning 9. Flash Floods in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area, Mexico: Lessons from Hurricane Alex Nicholas P. Sisto and Aldo Iván Ramírez 10. The Rio Bogotá Environmental Recuperation and Flood Control Project Carlos Costa Posada, Carlos Felipe Urazán Bonells and Edder A. Velandia Durán 11. Protection and Environmental Restoration of the Pichincha Slopes in Quito, Ecuador Xavier Vidal, Lucía Burgos and Othón Zevallos 12. Water Resources Management and Climate Change Adaptation in the Río Grande Basin, Argentina: A Case Study Introducing the Hydro-BID Modelling System Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, Eugene Brantly, Marcelo Borsellino, Edgardo Castellano, Robert Dykes, Fekadu Moreda, Raúl Muñoz-Castillo, Jay Rineer, Bill Wheaton, and Alan Wyatt Part 4: Green Infrastructure Development 13. Green Growth and Water Services in Latin American Cities Greg Browder 14. Water Funds as a Tool for Urban Water Provision and Watershed Conservation in Latin America Fernando Veiga, Alejandro Calvache, Silvia Benitez, Jorge León and Aurelio Ramos 15. Green Infrastructure and Watershed Protection in US Cities: Insights for Latin America Jonathan Kaledin