Multiple conceptions of sustainable urban water systems: problem or asset?

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Palme
Keyword(s):  
Time Perspective ◽  
National Level ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban Water Systems ◽  
Local Politicians ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

This paper examines various conceptions that researchers and practitioners in the sector have about sustainable urban water systems, to discern what these conceptions are and whether they are complementary or divergent. The study is based on a literature review and field studies, including semi-structured interviews. The results show that the conceptions held by the various actors are largely complementary, the most important divergence between them concerning time. The time perspective of local politicians is shorter than that of researchers and practitioners. A long-term perspective needs to be reinforced in decision making and planning to encourage research and development (R&D) for both technology and organizational structures to be better able to meet the sustainability challenges that urban water systems face. This reinforcement partly concerns fostering better understanding between different groups of actors, for example, through the joint (re)development of visions of and strategies for sustainable development, but also concerns clarifying at the national level how R&D in the Swedish water sector should be organized and financed.

Sustainable urban water systems in indicators: researchers' recommendations versus practice in Swedish utilities

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Palme ◽  
Anne-Marie Tillman
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Information Content ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Sustainable Development Indicators ◽  
Urban Water Systems

Sustainable development indicators (SDIs) are frequently recommended as tools for supporting sustainable development. The scientific community has made numerous suggestions regarding SDIs for urban water systems, but few studies have examined what information other actors consider important. This paper examines, based on literature and field studies of Swedish water organizations, what sets of SDIs are considered important, in terms of information content by researchers, sector associations and practitioners. Furthermore, the paper investigates how preferred SDI content relates to these actors' conceptions of sustainable development (SD) and what happens when sender and receiver disagree on what information should be captured in SDIs and exchanged. The results indicate that what SDI content is considered important reflects the conception of SD. Different conceptions of SD and the consequent differences in preferred SDIs contribute to a mismatch between the information that senders want to convey to receivers and the information the latter actually want. In such instances it was the receivers who determined what information was, in fact, exchanged. A prerequisite for meaningful application of SDIs in the Swedish water sector is to identify processes that can contribute to an increased pull for sustainability information, particularly so among its decision makers.

scholarly journals MUWS (Microbiology in Urban Water Systems) – an interdisciplinary approach to study microbial communities in urban water systems

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Deines ◽  
R. Sekar ◽  
H. S. Jensen ◽  
S. Tait ◽  
J. B. Boxall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Ecology ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Water Distribution Systems ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Infrastructure Systems ◽  
Urban Water Systems ◽  
Sewer Networks

Abstract. Microbiology in Urban Water Systems (MUWS) is an integrated project, which aims to characterize the microorganisms found in both potable water distribution systems and sewer networks. These large infrastructure systems have a major impact on our quality of life, and despite the importance of these systems as major components of the water cycle, little is known about their microbial ecology. Potable water distribution systems and sewer networks are both large, highly interconnected, dynamic, subject to time and varying inputs and demands, and difficult to control. Their performance also faces increasing loading due to increasing urbanization and longer-term environmental changes. Therefore, understanding the link between microbial ecology and any potential impacts on short or long-term engineering performance within urban water infrastructure systems is important. By combining the strengths and research expertise of civil-, biochemical engineers and molecular microbial ecologists, we ultimately aim to link microbial community abundance, diversity and function to physical and engineering variables so that novel insights into the performance and management of both water distribution systems and sewer networks can be explored. By presenting the details and principals behind the molecular microbiological techniques that we use, this paper demonstrates the potential of an integrated approach to better understand how urban water system function, and so meet future challenges.

scholarly journals Trajectories of Civil Society Leaders in Italy: Individual Careers, Organizational Structures, and Ideological Affiliations

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110615
Author(s):  
Cecilia Santilli ◽  
Roberto Scaramuzzino
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
National Level ◽  
Organizational Structures ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Third ◽  
Career Trajectories ◽  
Member Organization ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
The Relationship

The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between individual leaders’ career trajectories and organizational structure and identity in Italian civil society organizations (CSOs) active at national level. The analysis in this qualitative study draws on two sets of data, semi-structured interviews with leaders on their career trajectories and their understanding of what it takes to become a leader of a CSO and short biographies of leaders’ career trajectories. Three main representational logics are idenitified: within: multi-level, within: member-organization, and outside: supporting organization. The two first logics are based on a trajectory within the organizations either departing from the local and regional levels of the same organizations or within one or more member organizations. The third logic is based on a trajectory outside the organization that is marked by the ideological affiliation of the president through leading positions in other organizations within the same movement or field.

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