Governance Of Urban Wastewater Reuse For Agriculture: A Framework For Understanding And Action In Metropolitan Regions (springerbriefs In Water Science And Technology)

This book presents a conceptual and practical tool for those involved directly or indirectly in the planning and management of basic provision of water supply, wastewater and stormwater services in metropolitan regions by offering insights into governance paradigms and institutional arrangements for urban wastewater reuse in agriculture from Australia and India. Instead of focusing on the technical aspects of designing and building infrastructure, it provides a better understanding of the institutional and governance challenges of managing urban wastewater, particularly for reuse in agriculture. As water supplies fall and water stress increases in many areas, the potential of wastewater as a resource is being widely recognized. Today, wastewater (re)use has become an attractive option for conserving and expanding available water supplies. While wastewater (re)use can have many applications, its use in agriculture is the most established, and the one with the longest tradition. Given the growing competition for freshwater from industry and cities, without doubt there is going to be a rapid increase in the global use of treated wastewater, making improved wastewater use in agriculture an emerging priority. Even though it is a vast resource if we reclaim it properly, often most wastewater is wasted. Therefore, in order to realize the full potential of this resource, decision support in policy design and implementation (Institutions and Governance) is key. Institutions and governance frameworks need to provide for the rights of access, rights of ownership, rights to manage source and treated water and the obligations of final use of recycling operations. Preface 6 Acknowledgements 8 Contents 9 1 Introduction 12 1.1 Urban Wastewater—a Reliable Alternative Source of Water 12 1.2 New Directions for (Waste)Water Governance 14 1.2.1 The Shift in Water Governance Paradigm 15 1.3 Water Scarcity Crisis—Is Source Substitution the Answer? 16 References 18 2 Urban Wastewater Reuse—A Common Reality 20 2.1 Source Substitution—Response to Freshwater Scarcity Challenge 21 2.2 Urban Wastewater—Reuse Options and Applications 21 2.3 Urban Wastewater Reuse Experiences 25 2.3.1 Windhoek, Namibia 25 2.3.2 Singapore 26 2.3.3 United States of America 27 2.3.4 Europe 27 2.3.5 Israel 28 2.4 Challenges for Wastewater Management 28 2.4.1 Institutional Challenges 29 2.4.2 Public Perceptions and Acceptance 29 2.4.3 Market Imbalance 30 2.4.4 Financial Feasibility and Technicality 31 References 32 3 Water Governance and Wastewater Reuse in Australia and India 34 3.1 Water Governance—Concept and Definitions 34 3.1.1 Attributes of Good Governance 35 3.1.2 Water Governance 36 3.2 Water Transition in Australia and India 37 3.2.1 Institutional Change and Water Transition 37 3.2.1.1 Australia 38 3.2.1.2 Water Transitions in India 40 3.3 Wastewater Reuse in Australia and India 41 3.3.1 Australia 42 3.3.2 India 43 References 46 4 Theoretical Framework 49 4.1 Theory of Institutions 49 4.1.1 Formal and Informal Institutions 51 4.1.2 Functions of Institutions 51 4.2 The Theory of Collective Action 53 4.2.1 Concept of Collective Action 53 4.2.2 Reasons for Collective Action 54 4.2.2.1 Community Participation and Leadership 55 4.3 Sustainability and the Theory of Social Capital 56 4.3.1 Social Sustainability 57 4.3.1.1 Community Social Infrastructure—Meaning and Dimensions 58 4.3.2 Social Capital—Meaning and Forms 58 4.4 Water Governance—Public Versus Distributed Governance 59 4.4.1 Distributed Governance 60 4.4.1.1 Understanding Strategic Alliances 60 4.5 Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) in the Water Sector 62 4.5.1 Options for Public–Private Partnerships 65 References 65 5 Study Design and Methods 71 5.1 Study Design 71 5.1.1 Sampling Design 72 5.1.1.1 Selection of the Schemes 72 5.1.1.2 Selection of Respondents 72 5.1.1.3 Selection of Key Stakeholders 75 5.2 Data Collection Methods 75 5.2.1 Household Interview Survey 76 5.2.1.1 Face-to-Face Interviews 76 5.2.1.2 Telephone Interviews 76 5.2.2 Stakeholder Interviews 76 5.3 Survey Instruments 77 5.4 Data Analysis 77 5.5 Methodological and Analytical Limitations 78 References 78 6 Public–Private Partnership Model for Wastewater Management 80 6.1 Background of the Virginia Pipeline Scheme (VPS) 80 6.2 Results and Discussion 81 6.2.1 Socio-Demographic Profile of the Respondents 81 6.2.2 General Awareness of Wastewater Usage and the Scheme 81 6.2.3 Framework of Partnerships 82 6.2.4 Irrigators’ Perception of Collective Action and Participation 84 6.2.5 Irrigators’ Perception of Trust and Solidarity 86 6.2.6 Irrigators’ Perception of the ‘Rules-in-Use’ 87 6.3 Conclusions 89 References 90 7 Private Sector Participation in Wastewater Management 92 7.1 Project Background 92 7.2 Private Sector Involvement and the Willunga Pipeline Scheme 93 7.3 Results and Discussion 94 7.3.1 Socio-demographic Profile and Irrigation Details of the Respondents 94 7.3.2 Reason for Implementation of the Scheme and General Awareness 95 7.3.3 Irrigators’ Knowledge of the Operational Details of the Scheme 96 7.3.4 Irrigators’ Knowledge and Level of Trust 97 7.4 Conclusion 99 References 99 8 Informal and Uncontrolled Use of Wastewater for Agriculture 101 8.1 Field Settings 101 8.1.1 Channeling of Wastewater for Irrigation 102 8.2 Results and Discussions 104 8.2.1 Socio-demographic Profile and Irrigation Details of the Respondents 106 8.2.2 Perceptions of WUA Leaders About Water Management 106 8.3 Conclusions 110 References 111 9 Lessons Learned and Way Forward 112 9.1 Lessons Learned 113 9.1.1 Wastewater Policy Framework in Australia and India 115 9.1.2 Institutional and Social Environments for Wastewater Use 117 9.1.2.1 Institutional Environment 117 9.1.2.2 Technical Environment 118 9.1.2.3 Financial Environment 119 9.1.2.4 Socio-cultural Environment 120 9.2 Wastewater Reuse Schemes and Social Sustainability 121 9.3 The Way Forward—Policy Options 122 Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-8 Urban Wastewater Reuse—A Common Reality....Pages 9-22 Water Governance and Wastewater Reuse in Australia and India....Pages 23-37 Theoretical Framework....Pages 39-60 Study Design and Methods....Pages 61-69 Public–Private Partnership Model for Wastewater Management....Pages 71-82 Private Sector Participation in Wastewater Management....Pages 83-91 Informal and Uncontrolled Use of Wastewater for Agriculture....Pages 93-103 Lessons Learned and Way Forward....Pages 105-117