Buy new:
-40% $23.90$23.90
$5.99 delivery January 7 - 13
Ships from: gobelin Sold by: gobelin
Save with Used - Acceptable
$8.99$8.99
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: -OnTimeBooks-
1.76 mi | Ashburn 20147
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the author
OK
Water 4.0: The Past, Present, and Future of the World s Most Vital Resource Hardcover – January 28, 2014
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherYale University Press
- Publication dateJanuary 28, 2014
- Dimensions6.13 x 1 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-109780300176490
- ISBN-13978-0300176490
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together

Products related to this item
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides a clear explanation of water concepts and jargon in simple prose. They describe it as an interesting, delightful, and exciting read that explores water system history and the future. The writing style is described as fun and easy to follow. Readers appreciate the historical context and detailed narratives. Overall, they find the content well-presented and comprehensive.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book well-written and easy to understand. They appreciate the clear explanations of concepts and jargon in simple prose. The history of water and sewer treatment is presented in an engaging way that makes it easy for readers to grasp the complex subject matter. The technical aspects are explained in a way that makes them accessible to the layperson, making the book concise without being too technical.
"...and well written, I read it in just a few sittings, found it engaging...." Read more
"...Technical aspects are explained in a way that makes them accessible to the layperson, while the background, history, and context are explained in a..." Read more
"...of how populations over time have risen to the challenge of developing water conveyance and improving public and environmental health through water..." Read more
"...development into four major "revolutions" seems appropriate and logical, and this treatment helps to explain the sometimes curious ways in which we..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and follow. The writing style is fun and simple, explaining concepts and jargon in clear prose. Readers appreciate the clear articulation of multiple aspects of the subject matter. Overall, it's a thorough, well-written book for anyone interested in science.
"...The author has produced a very readable tour of water and its importance to human civilization...." Read more
"...Very interesting and well written, I read it in just a few sittings, found it engaging...." Read more
"...The book is an excellent read for both the expert and novice reader, and Professor Sedlak's deep understanding of the subject matter is readily..." Read more
"...But as a textbook it's an easy read." Read more
Customers find the book provides a good introduction to water issues, history, and future. It covers relevant topics like water treatment over the years and where we are headed. The book is written for non-experts, explaining concepts and jargon clearly. Readers are given a great primer on water and its importance to life and society.
"...Ultimately, the reader is given a great primer on water and its importance to life and society, and in the end, positioned to consider how human..." Read more
"Starts as a good history of people and the water they use...." Read more
"...Sedlak gives us a look into the future: with coherent descriptions of urban water’s next incarnations, Water 4.0 throws down the gauntlet with a..." Read more
"This is a fine book about how water has, and continues to flow to and away from our homes and cities...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and fascinating. They appreciate the detailed historical anecdotes and the narrative that puts technology into context. The book is described as an amazing read for anyone interested in water systems history and the future.
"...has won many awards and recognition for his innovative and high quality teaching at Berkeley, and it shows through in the book...." Read more
"...Very interesting and well written, I read it in just a few sittings, found it engaging...." Read more
"...could have been a dull, textbook-like subject and makes it both interesting and approachable for people of all different backgrounds...." Read more
"...challenges confronted by regions all around the U.S. are explored through fascinating and detailed historical anecdotes...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's history, which includes detailed anecdotes and a narrative that puts technology into historical context. They appreciate the vivid descriptions of water and wastewater history, as well as the amazing storytelling with sources. Overall, readers find the book inspiring and informative about how populations have changed over time.
"This is a great historical review of the four stages of water engineering...." Read more
"...Sedlak tells an inspiring narrative of how populations over time have risen to the challenge of developing water conveyance and improving public and..." Read more
"Starts as a good history of people and the water they use...." Read more
"...but does so within an engaging narrative that puts technology into its historical context...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's pacing and presentation. They find it well-presented, with an insightful and comprehensive look at how society treats mental health. The background information is nicely done, and the technical details are well-done.
"...reader's background. Nicely done!" Read more
"...and future prospects for water resources in our society is an eye-opening look at the remarkable engineering that has helped to make our..." Read more
"...Considering the content, well presented and fairly easy for a layman to grasp, at least this one...." Read more
"I was pleased by how well written this book was. It was thoughtful but logical; as a civil engineer, the technical discussion made sense to me and I..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014If you are looking for a dry, academic treatise on why humans have corrupted the earth, keep looking.
"Water 4.0" is a delightful, fascinating and ultimately very balanced treatment of humans and water: past, present, and future.
David Sedlak has won many awards and recognition for his innovative and high quality teaching at Berkeley, and it shows through in the book. You will probably put the book down and be amazed at how much you have learned about water and what an easy read it was. The author has produced a very readable tour of water and its importance to human civilization. Starting with the early efforts to channel fresh water to the present and an open view the future, the importance of water is delivered in a fascinating tour of Roman aqueducts, French sewers, Victorian battles for health, through modern systems for delivering water and removing wastes.
Ultimately, the reader is given a great primer on water and its importance to life and society, and in the end, positioned to consider how human society will continue to grow given the challenges of obtaining and providing clean water while removing wastes in sustainable ways. I think that the author has succeed in his goal of calling our attention to the importance of water to all of us, and how big those challenges are for both low resource and high resource societies.
More at his website: [...]
- Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2020This is a great historical review of the four stages of water engineering.
Very interesting and well written, I read it in just a few sittings, found it engaging.
Possibly a bit too text-bookish for the general public, but that really depends upon the
reader's background.
Nicely done!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2014This book makes what could have been a dull, textbook-like subject and makes it both interesting and approachable for people of all different backgrounds. While the technical aspects of providing water to billions of people throughout history and future are not ignored, this book focuses more on the drivers for why decisions were made and will need to be made in order to meet the challenge. Technical aspects are explained in a way that makes them accessible to the layperson, while the background, history, and context are explained in a way to better round out the understanding of those in the water industry. Sedlak never waxes political or beats the environmental war drum. Rather, he provides a balanced, reasoned argument for the ways to make providing billions of people with clean water a feasible reality while maintaining our quality of life and protecting our environment.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014This book is a great learning opportunity for audiences ranging from the casual science-minded reader to those actively working in the water field. Sedlak tells an inspiring narrative of how populations over time have risen to the challenge of developing water conveyance and improving public and environmental health through water and wastewater treatment. The particular challenges confronted by regions all around the U.S. are explored through fascinating and detailed historical anecdotes. Most importantly, the book addresses the ways in which populations of different scale and geography may continue to provide clean water in a world with a changing climate and diminishing energy reserves. The book describes a challenging yet hopeful way forward, while remaining pragmatic and engaging throughout.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014David Sedlak's treatise on the history and future prospects for water resources in our society is an eye-opening look at the remarkable engineering that has helped to make our civilization what it is today. His organization of water infrastructure development into four major "revolutions" seems appropriate and logical, and this treatment helps to explain the sometimes curious ways in which we currently access and dispose of the water we use. The book is an excellent read for both the expert and novice reader, and Professor Sedlak's deep understanding of the subject matter is readily apparent. The writing style is fun and easy to follow, and I found myself having many "aha!" moments as I read about development of treatment technologies and water delivery methods.
Most importantly, Sedlak takes great care to highlight the significant and critical challenges that we face at this particular moment with respect to both water quality and water quantity. It is abundantly clear that our society must reevaluate the way in which we use and dispose of water if we are to avoid serious environmental, social, and economic hardships. Water 4.0 should prove a rallying point for those interested in this important topic, and therefore I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about the health and well-being of both our society and the global environment.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2016Starts as a good history of people and the water they use.
Then it goes a little socialist saying all great achievements in water are only made by government agencies.
Finally it ends 100% communist, with people treating their own water and no massive treatment plants.
But as a textbook it's an easy read.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 20215.0 out of 5 stars The ordered book,was delivered into my letterbox 3 floors down,will collect tomorrow,17/08/2021.
Seems like an excellent read;the main item of the book;water ,is of
great importance to us all !
MarcusKReviewed in Canada on February 21, 20185.0 out of 5 stars Extremely important and timely book
An extremely important topic written in a clear, accessible way by a world authority on water use and management. I've built many professional talks around this book and have also given it out as gifts. Recommend it highly
-
Mose FirminoReviewed in Brazil on January 12, 20165.0 out of 5 stars Bom demais!!!!
Longo contexto histórico de planejamento da água. Avaliação da de sistemas centralizado e descentralizado de abastecimento. Ótima relação de biotecnologia, ciência dos materiais e sistema de informação para avanços de água potável, reuso, água pluvial e esgotamento sanitário.
Sonali ParanawithanaReviewed in Canada on October 18, 20145.0 out of 5 stars super quality
Amazing quality. Thank you
Adil GhazanfarReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 20165.0 out of 5 stars Great overview of the water Industry
Very interesting read for anyone who is concerned about the water industry in the current day. Really feels like a complete book with all the important parts of the water history take and comprised into a 'where do we go from here' approach.
Recommended read


