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A Resilient and Sustainable Water Sector: Barriers to the Operationalisation of Resilience

Author

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  • Elizabeth Lawson

    (Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, Harrison Building, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK)

  • Raziyeh Farmani

    (Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, Harrison Building, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK)

  • Ewan Woodley

    (College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK)

  • David Butler

    (Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter, Harrison Building, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK)

Abstract

Global threats such as climate change, increasing urbanisation, and rapid population growth will continue to pose major challenges for the water sector over the coming decades. Questions over supply, delivery and demand, all form a central part of this argument with the themes of sustainability and resilience often included in the response. Recent events, along with reactive changes to national legislation and policy, have resulted in a need for the notion of resilience to develop from a theoretical concept to a tangible operational method. This commentary discusses barriers to the operationalisation of resilience in the water sector of England and Wales. The current privatised governance structure of the water sector is first discussed before the three main barriers to operationalisation—lack of agreed definition, metrics and the measuring of resilience—and the need to further acknowledge the ‘socio’ in socio-technical systems, are further explored. A deeper understanding of the notion of resilience in the context of the water sector, and how it can be successfully and effectively applied and implemented at an operational level, are crucial if the sector is to manage and respond to the aforementioned global challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Lawson & Raziyeh Farmani & Ewan Woodley & David Butler, 2020. "A Resilient and Sustainable Water Sector: Barriers to the Operationalisation of Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:5:p:1797-:d:325957
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bryony M. Bowman & Dexter V. L. Hunt & Chris D. F. Rogers, 2022. "Gazing into the Crystal Ball: A Review of Futures Analysis to Promote Environmental Justice in the UK Water Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Pawel Gromek & Grzegorz Sobolewski, 2020. "Risk-Based Approach for Informing Sustainable Infrastructure Resilience Enhancement and Potential Resilience Implication in Terms of Emergency Service Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Giffoni, Eduarda & Jude, Simon & Smith, Heather M. & Pollard, Simon J.T., 2022. "Real-life resilience: Exploring the organisational environment of international water utilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Di Vaio, Assunta & Trujillo, Lourdes & D'Amore, Gabriella & Palladino, Rosa, 2021. "Water governance models for meeting sustainable development Goals:A structured literature review," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. Ziyi Wang & Zengqiao Chen & Cuiping Ma & Ronald Wennersten & Qie Sun, 2022. "Nationwide Evaluation of Urban Energy System Resilience in China Using a Comprehensive Index Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-36, February.
    6. Xinglong Wang & Shangfei Miao & Junqing Tang, 2020. "Vulnerability and Resilience Analysis of the Air Traffic Control Sector Network in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Damman, Sigrid & Schmuck, Alexandra & Oliveira, Rosário & Koop, Steven (Stef) H.A. & Almeida, Maria do Céu & Alegre, Helena & Ugarelli, Rita Maria, 2023. "Towards a water-smart society: Progress in linking theory and practice," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

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