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Science, Technology & Human Values
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Risk and Governance in Water Recycling

Public Acceptance Revisited

Nyree Stenekes

University of New South Wales

Hal K. Colebatch

University of New South Wales

T. David Waite

University of New South Wales

Nick J. Ashbolt

University of New South Wales

Public acceptance is often seen as a key reason why water-recycling technology is (accepted or) rejected. A common assumption is that projects fail because the general public is unable to comprehend specialist information about risk and the belief that if the public were better informed, they would accept change more readily. This article suggests that rhetoric about acceptance is counterproductive in progressing sustainability as it does not address issues relating to institutional arrangements and reinforces a dichotomy between expert and lay groups. Instead, it is argued that institutional change is needed to build opportunities for constructive public engagement. The failure to implement sustainable water use through recycling can be understood as the result of several factors including present cost structures for water, institutional conservatism, administrative fragmentation, and inadequate involvement of communities in planning. Achieving sustainable water use through recycling may require better coordination between agencies and integrated government policies.

Key Words: water recycling • institutional approach • risk • public acceptance • community engagement

Science, Technology & Human Values, Vol. 31, No. 2, 107-134 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0162243905283636
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