Factors Influencing Participation Intention for Improving River Water Quality: An Empirical Evidence from Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The improvement of river water quality has been recognized as a means of achieving successful river restoration that shows improved morphological, biota and ecological conditions. A better understanding of the factors that influence public participation in improving water quality can contribute to improvements in water management. The main aim of this study is to assess factors that influence public participation intention for improving river water quality in densely populated Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Through questionnaire surveys, this study examines Dhaka residents’ participation intention for improving the water quality of urban rivers. This research underpins societal relation to nature and value belief norm theory to elucidate the public preferences on participating program toward improving river water quality. The survey evidenced that the residents of Dhaka city showed a higher degree of preference for clean rivers, and pro-environmental attitudes could moderate the participation intention toward improving the water quality program. The results also indicate that perceived benefits have a strong role in persuading the resident’s preference over the improvement of river water quality. Moreover, the interviewees considered clean urban rivers to be predominantly useful for their healthy living. The possible implications can be the water managers and politicians consider these results as a significant input pertinent to ongoing public and political discussion about river restoration, whilst the societal relevance of river pollution and its improvement might be a key factor.