Institutional Barriers to On-Site Alternative Water Systems: A Conceptual Framework and Systematic Analysis of the Literature

Abstract

Scientists are increasingly exploring on-site water systems to supplement conventional centralized water and wastewater infrastructure. While major technological advancements have been achieved, we still lack a systematic view on the non-technical, or institutional, elements that constitute important barriers to the uptake of on-site urban water management systems. This paper presents a conceptual framework distinguishing between institutional barriers in six key dimensions: Equity, Knowledge and Capabilities, Financial Investment, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks, Legitimacy, and Market Structures. The analysis of the existing literature covering these barriers is translated into a typology of the sociotechnical complexity of different types of alternative water systems (e.g., nonpotable reuse, rainwater systems, and nutrient recovery). Findings show that socio-technical complexity increases with the pollution load in the source water, correlating to potential health risk, and the number of sectors involved in the value chain of an alternative water system. For example, greywater reuse for toilet flushing might have systematically less complex institutional barriers than source separation for agricultural reuse. This study provides practitioners with easily accessible means of understanding non-technical barriers for various types of on-site reuse systems and provides researchers with a conceptual framework for capturing socio-technical complexity in the adoption of alternative water systems.

The Life Cycle Environmental Performance of On-Site or Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems for Domestic Homes

“…In this context, the conception and evaluation of water infrastructure has evolved from a technical focus to a more sociotechnical focus, taking into account contemporary changes in society, technology, and nature [7]. With this, there has been an increased interest in the sustainability of decentralised water and wastewater infrastructure systems, alongside advancements in treatment technology to protect environmental pollution [8][9][10][11]. Decentralised or on-site systems are of particular interest and value in rural environments [10,12].…”

Water- and Energy-Efficient Appliances for Circular Water Economy: Conceptual Framework Development and Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Water Consumption

“…Blackwater is defined as wastewater from toilets, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers. Wastewater is defined as a combination of both blackwater and graywater. , Recycled graywater from showers and clothes washers was assumed to be used for irrigation and toilet flushing. Our model household consists of 2.53 residents on average according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data .…”

Actor Roles and Networks in Implementing Urban Water Innovation: A Study of Onsite Water Reuse in the San Francisco Bay Area

“…Such studies have used engineering research methods like spatial optimization, , life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis, cost–benefit analysis, and techno-economic modeling . There is also a smaller but growing body of literature focusing on social dynamics of decentralized and hybrid urban water systems, including sociotechnical transitions, stakeholder perceptions, , and policy and governance arrangements. ,, Recent scholarship has highlighted the need for more research into governance arrangements that enable transformative innovation in urban water management. , These research efforts are critical to supporting the implementation of new OWR systems and understanding new power arrangements and dynamics that might emerge along with innovative technology adoption …”

“…As such initiatives proliferate in different cities around the world (including San Francisco, USA; Bangalore, India; or Barcelona, Spain), a better understanding is needed of the conditions and stakeholder arrangements that can lead to the emergence of successful onsite water management practices. , Research investigating these enabling conditions has largely focused on the definition and development of policies and programs rather than the more practical aspects of OWR implementation. While many cities have experimented with OWR, few have developed a comprehensive governance model that defines stakeholders′ roles and responsibilities throughout the course of OWR implementation, from project conception to daily operation and maintenance .…”