Drought and Water Scarcity in the UK: Social Science Perspectives on Governance, Knowledge and Outreach (Global Challenges in Water Governance)

This book presents a social science perspective on drought and water scarcity in the UK. It puts forward a narrative of how different stakeholders manage drought and water scarcity, how they generate and manage knowledge and how power relationships between stakeholders shape drought and water scarcity management. The book begins with an analysis and critique of all water resources management plans produced by English and Welsh water supply companies for the period 2014-2019 and introduces a novel typology for drought management options. It then moves on to discuss the effect of drought and water scarcity on businesses and production processes as well as how knowledge about drought and water scarcity is generated, by whom and for what purpose. Ultimately the book argues for the urgent need to engage people in the UK about water issues and offers a novel perspective on how to communicate and engage with drought research. Kevin Grecksch is British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, University of Oxford, UK. He is a social scientist specialising in water governance and climate change adaptation. He holds a doctorate in Economics from Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany. Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction References Part I: Governance Chapter 2: UK Drought and Water Scarcity Management Options Introduction Data and Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Appendix References Chapter 3: Drought and Business Introduction Materials and Methods Results and Discussion Role of Drought and Water Scarcity Potential Effects of Drought and Water Scarcity and Reflection of Drought and Water Scarcity in Strategies, Policies or Reports Relationship with Regulatory Bodies and Water Companies Experience with Past Drought Events and Changes in the Approach Towards Drought and Water Scarcity Future Challenges and Solutions Other Industries and Large Abstractors Summary Conclusions References Part II: Knowledge Chapter 4: Drought and Drought Knowledge: The Example of Catfield Fen Introduction Data and Methods Three Key Themes Importance of Hydroecological Data and the Need for More and Better Hydroecological Data Power Relationship Between Actors Local (Expert) Knowledge Example: Catfield Fen Catfield Fen and the Implications for Environmental Science Knowledges Summary of the Example Conclusion Appendix Regulators Interview RSA.REG5 Environment Agency (2015) Conclusion Interview RSA.REG6 Interview RSA.REG4 Water Company Interview RSA.WC2 Abstractor Groups Interview RSA.ABS2 Interview RSA.ABS3 Interview RSA.ABS1 References Part III: Outreach Chapter 5: Public Engagement with Drought and Water Scarcity Research Introduction Public Engagement: Role and Significance Drought Walks Waterways Walk Birmingham Drought Walk London Conclusion References Chapter 6: Conclusion References Index