This book tries to answer the question how different communities in such an arid area as the
Iranian central plateau could have shared their limited water resources in a perfect harmony
and peace over the course of history. They invented some indigenous technologies as well as
cooperative socio-economic systems in order to better adapt themselves to their harsh
environment where the scarce water resources had to be rationed among the different communities
as sustainably as possible. Those stories hold some lessons for us on how to adjust our needs
to our geographical possibilities while living side by side with other people. This work gives
insight into the indigenous adaptation strategies through the territorial water cooperation
and describes how water can appear as a ground for cooperation. It explains the water supply
systems and social aspects of water in central Iran. Topics include the territorial water
cooperation qanat's the traditional water management and sustainability the socio-economic
context the sustainable management of shared aquifers system and more.
