Abstract
We explore the connections between the concepts of governance and sustainability and discuss their possible roles in water and sanitation management systems (WSMS). We see governance as a decision-making process that drives the relationship between social institutions and the public affairs of a given society. We understand sustainability as a combination of spatial, temporal, and personal aspects, and we argue that this definition is more comprehensive than the traditional triple bottom line of economy, environment, and society. We combined these two concepts into a new conceptual framework of “governance for sustainability” that is theoretically sound and arguably appropriate to understand local WSMS. To illustrate this framework, we developed and estimated a Sustainable Water Governance Index (SWGI) for the city of Salta, Argentina. This aggregated index was calculated with data from literature, information from the city’s water company and other local institutions, field visits, and interviews. The SWGI for Salta obtained an overall score of 49 on a 0–100 scale, which fell into the “danger” range. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the method and conclude that aggregated indices such as the SWGI, complemented with contextual information, can be a helpful decision-making tool to promote more sustainable WSMS.
Highlights
The complexity and close interconnections between social and environmental issues need to be explicitly acknowledged in the management of water and other natural resources
It is encouraging that some good practices have emerged from recent water and sanitation projects, but there is still much to be done to ensure the sustainability of water and sanitation management systems (WSMS), not least complying universally with the United
We presented a new approach to studying the complex issues related to the governance and sustainability of water and sanitation management systems (WSMS)
Summary
The complexity and close interconnections between social and environmental issues need to be explicitly acknowledged in the management of water and other natural resources. In the specific case of water management, purely technical approaches seem insufficient to adequately respond to the demands of a constantly growing population and mounting water consumption pressure [3,4]. In those cases, the relationship between the concepts of governance and sustainability, and their possible roles for the improvement of decision-making processes in water and sanitation management systems (WSMS) is receiving increasing attention [5]. We discuss the potential usefulness of the SWGI in fostering sustainable decision-making processes in the region
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