The emerging scientific water paradigm: Precursors, hallmarks, and trajectories

Abstract

Increasing scholarship has focused on a shift in scientific water paradigm in the 21st century from an understanding of water systems as stationary, predictable and command-and-control as appropriate governance to an understanding of them as complex, dynamic, and uncertain. This shift has been characterized in several ways. We focused on two prominent characterizations: as a "new water paradigm" and as "water resilience." We identified the defining hallmarks of each, the "precursor" scholarship upon which these Defining Works build, and how the Defining Works have been advanced with "Subsequent Works" that cite them. We used bibliometric data to analyze the three bodies of literature and inductive coding to identify the hallmarks of the new water paradigm and water resilience from Defining Works. Four categories of hallmarks were identified that describe the emerging scientific water paradigm: complex adaptive systems orientation; governance and management configurations, which are inclusive, integrative, adaptive; governance and management actions that emphasize linkages between social and ecological systems and imperative of sustainability; and, attributes of diversity, redundancy and openness. There was insufficient evidence in fields of research, author country, and publishing journals to confirm that the emerging scientific water paradigm has been conceptualized in two distinct ways. Despite the degree of similarity between the two conceptualizations, the literature is strongly oriented toward one or the other. We suggest consilience between these two conceptualizations and scholars working with them to advance collective understanding of governance and management in light of our current understanding of water systems.

The how tough is WASH framework for assessing the climate resilience of water and sanitation

“…Adaptive management is critical in building resilience 32,33 and the importance of management tools to cope with the likely threats of future climate change has been noted 9,34 . Strong adaptive management is typified by WASH management structures that are representative of the communities they serve, with substantive participation by women and marginalised groups; sustainable financing (through user fees or similar community contributions) including access to emergency funds for rehabilitation; operator(s) in post with the requisite skills; and transparent decision-making processes 35 .…”

Attitudes toward water resilience and potential for improvement

“…Water resilience represents a paradigm, or a set of ideas and beliefs about the nature of the system (Baird et al, 2020b; Schoeman et al, 2014). Paradigms and associated personal mindsets or worldviews – as a foundation from which a system arises – feature as an important leverage point for system change (Abson et al, 2017; Meadows, 1999).…”