Skip to main content
Log in

Using the Concept of Common Pool Resources to Understand Community Perceptions of Diverse Water Sources in Adelaide, South Australia

  • Published:
Water Resources Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Diversification and integration of water supply systems is occurring to advance both water security and environmental sustainability, but research into community perceptions of these changes is in its infancy. In this paper, water user group discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of the diverse water sources used in Adelaide, Australia, are analyzed in terms of the urban water system as a common pool resource: one competitively accessed by numerous users that put it at risk of depletion. The research method was a water planning activity, in which visual cues were utilised to help water users reflect on conditions that they perceived would enable acceptance of seven water source options and one water efficiency option. The key results were that water sources were perceived to be in two categories: bounded sources associated with eco-systems and viewed as common pool resources vulnerable to depletion. Unbounded sources such as rainwater in tanks, stormwater, and wastewater were seen as under-utilised sources to be further exploited if any risks to health could be mitigated. Finally, keys to acceptance were authority to govern, prevention of waste, and community engagement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cools M, Brijs K, Tormans H, Moons E, Janssens D, Wets G (2011) The socio-cognitive links between road pricing acceptability and changes in travel-behavior. Transp Res A Policy Pract 45(8):779–788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillon P (2011) Water security for Adelaide, South Australia. In: Quentin Grafton R, Hussey K (eds) Water resources planning and management. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 505–526

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dolnicar S, Schäfer AI (2009) Desalinated versus recycled water: public perceptions and profiles of the accepters. J Environ Manag 90(2):888–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunlap RE, Van Liere KD, Mertig AG, Jones RE (2000) Measuring Endorsement of the new ecological paradigm: a revised NEP scale. J Soc Issues 56(3):425–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox D, Batley G, Blackburn D, Bone Y, Bryars S, Cheshire A, Collings G, Ellis D, Fairweather P, Fallowfield H (2007) The Adelaide coastal waters study. Final report volume 1-summary of study findingsRep. CSIRO, Glen Osmond

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujii S (2006) Environmental concern, attitude toward frugality, and ease of behavior as determinants of pro-environmental behavior intentions. J Environ Psychol 26(4):262–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardin G (1968) The tragedy of the commons. Science 162(3859):1243–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurlimann A (2008) Community attitudes to recycled water use: an urban Australian case study–part 2Rep. The Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment, Salisbury

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurlimann A, Hemphill E, McKay J, Geursen G (2008) Establishing components of community satisfaction with recycled water use through a structural equation model. J Environ Manag 88(4):1221–1232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs MH, Buijs AE (2011) Understanding stakeholders’ attitudes toward water management interventions: role of place meanings. Water Resour Res 47(1)

  • Leonard R, Walton A, Koth B, Green M, Spinks A, Myers B, Malkin S, Mankad A, Chacko P, Sharma A, Pezzaniti D (2013) Community acceptance of water sensitive urban design: six case studies. Goyder Institute for Water Research, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • Mankad A, Tapsuwan S (2011) Review of socio-economic drivers of community acceptance and adoption of decentralised water systems. J Environ Manag 92(3):380–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mankad A, Tucker D (2013) Alternative household water systems: perceptions of knowledge and trust among residents of South East Queensland. Ecopscyhology 4(4):296–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mankad A, Tucker D, Greenhill MP (2011) Mandated versus retrofitted tank owners: psychological factors predicting maintenance and management urban water security research alliance technical report no. 51

  • Mankad A, Walton A, Leonard R (2013) Public attitudes towards managed aquifer recharge and urban stormwater use in Adelaide, Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 13/10, Adelaide

  • Marks J (2006) Taking the public seriously: the case of potable and non potable reuse. Desalination 187(1):137–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marlow DR, Moglia M, Cook S, Beale DJ (2013) Towards sustainable urban water management: a critical reassessment. Water Res 47(20):7150–7161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray Darling Basin Commission (2002) The living Murray: a discussion paper on restoring the health of the River Murray. Stage 1: informing and engaging the community. Murray Darling Basin Commission, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Nancarrow B, Leviston Z, Po M, Porter N, Tucker D (2008) What drives communities’ decisions and behaviours in the reuse of wastewater. Water Sci Technol 57(4):485–491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nancarrow B, Leviston Z, Tucker D (2009) Measuring the predictors of communities’ behavioural decisions for potable reuse of wastewater. Water Sci Technol 60(12):3199–3209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nancarrow B, Porter N, Leviston Z (2010) Predicting community acceptability of alternative urban water supply systems: a decision making model. Urban Water J 7(3):197–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (1990) Governing the commons: the evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (2008) The challenge of common-pool resources. Environ Sci Policy Sustain Dev 50(4):8–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (2009) A general framework for analyzing sustainability of social-ecological systems. Science 325(5939):419–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom E (2010) Polycentric systems for coping with collective action and global environmental change. Glob Environ Chang 20(4):550–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parks CD, Joireman J, Van Lange PA (2013) Cooperation, trust, and antagonism how public goods are promoted. Psychol Sci Public Interest 14(3):119–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • QSR (2008) NVIVO8 www.qsrinternational.com

  • Rosenbloom JD (2013) Labeling nature as a common pool resource. In: Hirokawa KH (ed) Environmental Law and Contrasting Ideas of Nature: A Constructivist Approach. pp. 12–35

  • SA Water (2007) Annual report 2006–2007. South Australian Water Corporation, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • SA Water (2013) Annual report 2012–2013. South Australian Water Corporation, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • South Australian Government (2012), South Australian water industry act 2012, edited

  • Spies B, Dandy G (2012) Sustainable water management. Securing Australia’s future in a green economy. Melbourne Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. pp. 146

  • Stoutenborough JW, Vedlitz A (2014) Public attitudes toward water management and drought in the United States. Water Resour Manag 28:697–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiek A, Larson KL (2012) Water, people, and sustainability—a systems framework for analyzing and assessing water governance regimes. Water Resour Manag 26:3153–3171

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosemary Leonard.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Leonard, R., Walton, A. & Farbotko, C. Using the Concept of Common Pool Resources to Understand Community Perceptions of Diverse Water Sources in Adelaide, South Australia. Water Resour Manage 29, 1697–1711 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0906-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0906-6

Keywords

Navigation