Analyzing the Data-Rich-But-Information-Poor Syndrome in Dutch Water Management in Historical Perspective

Abstract

Water quality monitoring has developed over the past century from an unplanned, isolated activity into an important discipline in water management. This development also brought about a discontent between information users and information producers about the usefulness and usability of information, in literature often referred to as the data-rich-but-information-poor syndrome. This article aims to gain a better understanding of this issue by studying the developments over some five decades of Dutch national water quality monitoring, by analyzing four studies in which the role and use of information are discussed from different perspectives, and by relating this to what is considered in literature as useful information. The article concludes that a ''water information gap'' exists which is rooted in different mutual perceptions and expectations between the two groups on what useful information is, that can be overcome by improving the communication. Such communication should be based on willingness to understand and deal with different mindframes and should be based on a methodology that guides and structures the interactions.

Drivers influencing adaptive management: a retrospective evaluation of water quality decisions in South East Queensland (Australia)

“…Information was the attribute that least affected water quality decisions in SEQ. This is no surprise, as the literature supports this, providing several examples both of management failures due to ineffective communication between information providers (e.g., scientists) and decision-makers (see McNie 2007;Timmerman et al 2010) and of the influence of communication and lobbying in decision-making (Brock and Carpenter 2007).…”

A methodology to bridge the water information gap

“…A structure to manage the process The lack of communication, an important characteristic of the water information gap, is partly due to decision makers and information producers that are little inclined to invest in assessing each others' priorities and needs (Timmerman et al 2010). Based on this observation, an approach was sought which supports and promotes interaction and collaboration between multiple actors with different stakes and with different mindframes.…”

“…These interactions need to be guided and structured (Timmerman et al 2010). To this end, an information needs assessment methodology has been developed in which information users and information producers embark in a process of social learning that aids in developing an understanding of the policy process among information producers while information users gain understanding of the information production process.…”

“…A specific form of the science-policy gap within the domain of environmental information is the water information gap (Timmerman et al 2010). A large amount of information is collected by water management organisations yearly to support the evaluation and development of water management and water policy.…”

Extracting Value From Complex High-Frequency Multivariate Water Quality Data: Exploring Routinely Collected Operational Data

“…The problems of a 'data rich, information poor' approach to water quality monitoring are well established [1][2][3]. Despite increasing investment in remote and in-line water quality monitoring in catchments and for the protection and operation of drinking water treatment works (WTW), and despite the objectives of reducing cost, reducing risk and increasing resilience, the potential value contained within routinely collected high-frequency water quality data is rarely realised.…”