Priority water research questions as determined by UK practitioners and policy makers

Authors:Brown, L. E. Mitchell, G. Holden, J. Folkard, A. Wright, N. Beharry-Borg, N. Berry, G. Brierley, B. Chapman, P. Clarke, S. J. Cotton, L. Dobson, M. Dollar, E. Fletcher, M. Foster, J. Hanlon, A. Hildon, S. Hiley, P. Hillis, P. Hoseason, J. Johnston, K. Kay, P. McDonald, A. Parrott, A. Powell, A. Slack, R. J. Sleigh, A. Spray, C. Tapley, K. Underhill, R. Woulds, C.

Source:

Volume:409

DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.09.040

Published:2010

Document Type:Article

Abstract:Several recent studies have emphasised the need for a more integrated process in which researchers, policy makers and practitioners interact to identify research priorities. This paper discusses such a process with respect to the UK water sector, detailing how questions were developed through inter-disciplinary collaboration using online questionnaires and a stakeholder workshop. The paper details the 94 key questions arising, and provides commentary on their scale and scope. Prioritisation voting divided the nine research themes into three categories: (1) extreme events (primarily flooding), valuing freshwater services, and water supply, treatment and distribution [each >150/1109 votes]; (2) freshwater pollution and integrated catchment management [100-150 votes] and; (3) freshwater biodiversity, water industry governance, understanding and managing demand and communicating water research [50-100 votes]. The biggest demand was for research to improve understanding of intervention impacts in the water environment, while a need for improved understanding of basic processes was also clearly expressed, particularly with respect to impacts of pollution and aquatic ecosystems. Questions that addressed aspects of appraisal, particularly incorporation of ecological service values into decision making, were also strongly represented. The findings revealed that sustainability has entered the lexicon of the UK water sector, but much remains to be done to embed the concept operationally, with key sustainability issues such as resilience and interaction with related key sectors, such as energy and agriculture, relatively poorly addressed. However, the exercise also revealed that a necessary condition for sustainable development, effective communication between scientists, practitioners and policy makers, already appears to be relatively well established in the UK water sector. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Author Information

Corresponding Author:Brown, LE (通讯作者)，Univ Leeds, Sch Geog, Leeds LS2 9JT, W Yorkshire, England.

Reprint Address:Brown, LE (通讯作者)，Univ Leeds, Sch Geog, Leeds LS2 9JT, W Yorkshire, England.

Addresses:[Brown, L. E.; Mitchell, G.; Holden, J.; Chapman, P.; Johnston, K.; Kay, P.; McDonald, A.; Slack, R. J.; Woulds, C.] Univ Leeds, Sch Geog, Leeds LS2 9JT, W Yorkshire, England; [Folkard, A.] Univ Lancaster, Lancaster Environm Ctr, Catchment & Aquat Proc Grp, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, England; [Berry, G.] Weetwood Environm Engn, Leeds LS1 2TW, W Yorkshire, England; [Brierley, B.] Environm Agcy, Bristol BS32 4UD, Avon, England; [Clarke, S. J.] Nat England, Peterborough PE1 1UA, Cambs, England; [Cotton, L.] Consumer Council Water, Birmingham B2 4AJ, W Midlands, England; [Dobson, M.; Powell, A.] Freshwater Biol Assoc, Ambleside LA22 0LP, Cumbria, England; [Dollar, E.] MWH UK Ltd, High Wycombe HP13 5DR, Bucks, England; [Fletcher, M.] Arup, Leeds LS10 1LJ, W Yorkshire, England; [Foster, J.] Drinking Water Inspectorate, London SW1A 2EY, England; [Hanlon, A.] Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Peat Partnership, York YO24 1GN, N Yorkshire, England; [Hildon, S.; Hoseason, J.] Environm Agcy, Leeds LS1 2QG, W Yorkshire, England; [Hiley, P.] Scott Wilson Ltd, Leeds LS1 1BA, W Yorkshire, England; [Hillis, P.] United Util Plc, Warrington WA5 3LP, Cheshire, England; [Parrott, A.] Environm Agcy, Peterborough PE2 5ZR, Cambs, England; [Spray, C.] Univ Dundee, UNESCO Ctr Water Law Policy & Sci Res, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland; [Tapley, K.] Univ Leeds, Dept Colour & Polymer Chem, Leeds LS2 9JT, W Yorkshire, England; [Underhill, R.] Royal Soc Protect Birds, Sandy SG19 2DL, Beds, England

E-mail Addresses:l.brown@leeds.ac.uk

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