Understanding the stakeholder knowledge about, the mindset of and the power for the sustainability transformation of urban stormwater systems: An empirical analysis of three European urban districts

Abstract

The implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) is believed to have the potential to bring about extensive change in stormwater management. This includes change in the crucial but still relatively little researched institutional context (prevailing mindset, etc.) shaping practice. This paper contributes to the further understanding of the institutional context surrounding SuDS deployment. Stakeholder knowledge, mindset, and power (both perceived and exercised) are explored, embracing divergences between district types (districts with SuDS and districts without SuDS), stakeholder groups (residents and various professionals), and two European socio-ecological contexts (Austria and Southern France). Results show increasing support for SuDS implementation and ambitious approaches to stormwater management, although the latter in particular rarely has any effect in practice. A sharp dichotomy persists between residents and professionals in terms of knowledge and exercised power. Daily experience with SuDS rarely has any influence on residents' knowledge and mindset, regardless of their demographic, social and geographical characteristics. Stakeholders appear motivated but tend to feel incapable of contributing to change. Information campaigns and the provision of empowerment tools to those individuals who feel motivated, but unaware of their capabilities, need to be developed in order to enable further change.