Merging network governance and systems analysis for urban water management

Abstract

ABSTRACTMetropolitan regions have diverse governance systems comprised of many organisations. In western North American cities, networks of water supply agencies are highly complex. Agencies face future challenges, especially promoting alternative water sources to cope with imported water scarcity and population growth. How might such operational changes affect existing management structures? Answering this question requires integrated analysis of resource management systems, combining network governance and operations research techniques. This paper presents an analysis of changes to network governance that could result from shifts to alternative local water supplies in the metropolitan Los Angeles region. The analysis investigates ⁠potential changes in governance for LA’s water supply across future management and operational scenarios. It presents the novel concept of dynamic centrality to understand how network governance interactions could vary across changes in operational scenarios of water availability. Results indicate that, with imported water reductions, intermediate wholesaler water agencies become more dominant, making the network become more “polycentric”, with duties still dispersed across multiple public and private types of water suppliers. The analysis helps chart new paths for integrated studies of network governance and engineering systems analysis, which can address noted gaps for translating academic research into public policy.