Priority water research questions as determined by UK practitioners and policy makers |
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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 |
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Affiliation: | a water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKb Catchment and Aquatic Processes Group, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UKc water@leeds, Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKd water@leeds, Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKe Weetwood Environmental Engineering, 4 Queen Street, Leeds, LS1 2TW, UKf Environment Agency, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almodsbury, Bristol, BS32 4UD, UKg Natural England, Northminster House, Northminster, Peterborough, PE1 1UA, UKh Consumer Council for Water, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4AJ, UKi Freshwater Biological Association, The Ferry Landing, Far Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0LP, UKj MWH UK Ltd, Chepping House, 17-18 Temple End, High Wycombe, HP13 5DR, UKk Arup, The Small Mill & Malt House, Chadwick Street, Clarence Dock, Leeds, LS10 1LJ, UKl Drinking Water Inspectorate, 55 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2EY, UKm Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, 1 St George's Place, York, YO24 1GN, UKn Environment Agency, Rivers House, 21 Park Square, Leeds, LS1 2QG, UKo Scott Wilson Ltd, WestOne, Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 1BA, UKp United Utilities Plc, Haweswater House, Lingley Mere Business Park, Warrington, WA5 3LP, UKq Environment Agency, Kingfisher House, Peterborough, PE2 5ZR, UKr UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UKs water@leeds, Department of Colour and Polymer Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKt RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK |
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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. |
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Keywords: | Appraisal Ecosystem services Extreme events Freshwater biodiversity Freshwater pollution Integrated catchment management Wastewater treatment Water supply |
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