Evidence-based decision-making on water quality in domestic water supply in Malawi, Ecuador, and Brazil
- 23 November 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by IWA Publishing in Water Policy
- Vol. 20 (3), 530-545
- https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2017.184
Abstract
Scholars and practitioners advocate evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) because facts lead to beneficial outcomes. At the same time, EBDM to reduce risks in water quality is understudied. We examine types of decision-making by water utilities and government agencies, and the nature and origin of evidence available to them in their work on delivering safe drinking water to households. Using qualitative content analysis, we comparatively analyze water utilities and government agencies in Malawi, Ecuador, and Brazil. The results show that the water utilities perform combinations of decision-making types on water quality such as implementation, intelligence gathering, and evaluation and choice, while government agencies perform more intelligence gathering. Sources and types of information are mainly water consumers, guidelines for water quality standards, and self-monitoring from water utilities. The analysis is useful in establishing a foundation for developing evidence-based management within water supply services, and potentially other water resources management activities.Keywords
This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- Country clustering applied to the water and sanitation sector: A new tool with potential applications in research and policyInternational Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2014
- Actionable Knowledge for Environmental Decision Making: Broadening the Usability of Climate ScienceAnnual Review of Environment and Resources, 2013
- Science-based decision-making on complex issues: Marcellus shale gas hydrofracking and New York City water supplyScience of The Total Environment, 2013
- Evidence Based Policy: Principles of Transparency and AccountabilityAustralian Journal of Public Administration, 2012
- Water, People, and Sustainability—A Systems Framework for Analyzing and Assessing Water Governance RegimesWater Resources Management, 2012
- Institutional design propositions for the governance of adaptation to climate change in the water sectorGlobal Environmental Change, 2012
- Evidence-Based Policy-Making: The Elusive Search for Rational Public AdministrationAustralian Journal of Public Administration, 2011
- Reconsidering evidence-based policy: Key issues and challengesPolicy and Society, 2010
- Knowledge is Like Light – Information is Like WaterInformation Development, 2000
- Strategies for Theorizing from Process DataAcademy of Management Review, 1999