A framework for understanding risk perception, explored from the perspective of the water practitioner

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Risk Management

Background:

• Sustainable urban water systems integrate centralized and decentralized infrastructure.
• Social and institutional barriers, particularly risk perceptions, impede the adoption of these systems.
• Risk perceptions influence decision-making in water management but are often unacknowledged.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the gap in understanding risk perceptions' role in sustainable water management.
• To present a framework for understanding risk perceptions related to alternative water sources.
• To aid water practitioners in navigating implementation challenges.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a framework from a critical review of perception and risk perception studies.
• Built the framework on the relational theory of risk.
• Interpreted the framework for water practitioners, defining 'risk object' and 'object at risk'.

Main Results:

• The framework helps practitioners understand their own and others' differing risk perceptions.
• Identifies 'risk objects' (e.g., alternative systems) and 'objects at risk' (e.g., public health, reputation).
• Provides a tool for analyzing the human factors influencing the adoption of new water technologies.

Conclusions:

• Acknowledging and understanding risk perceptions is crucial for advancing sustainable urban water management.
• The proposed framework offers a structured approach to analyzing these perceptions.
• Further empirical research is needed to validate and refine the framework in practice.