Water Infrastructure Projects Research Articles

Investigation of Community Engagement in Sustainable Construction Projects: Case Studies from Nigeria

This study investigates the role of community engagement in sustainable construction projects in Nigeria, focusing on three case studies: a green residential building in Lagos, an eco-friendly community center in Abuja, and a sustainable water infrastructure project in rural Kano. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through interviews, surveys, and document analysis. The research identifies significant variations in engagement practices, with Lagos showing high engagement levels, leading to greater community acceptance and better environmental outcomes. Key success factors include strong leadership, adequate funding, and effective communication, while challenges such as socio-cultural barriers and political interference were noted. The findings emphasize the importance of sustained, tailored engagement strategies to enhance project sustainability and community support. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical data on the long-term impacts of community engagement, offering insights for policy makers and project managers to improve community participation in sustainable construction.

Sustainability assessment of urban water public‐private partnership projects with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria

AbstractWith the acceleration of urbanization, the sustainability of urban water infrastructure projects has become pivotal to social development. This research aims to construct a comprehensive sustainability assessment model for urban water public‐private partnership (PPP) projects based on the environmental, social, and governance criteria. First, a multi‐level assessment indicator system is established considering the economic, social, ecological, and governance sustainability dimensions. Then, the extended analytic hierarchy process is utilized to determine the weights of indicators based on expert scoring. To address the ambiguity of qualitative linguistic variables, the interval‐valued intuitionistic fuzzy set method is applied to aggregate expert assessments. An empirical case study of an urban water project verifies the feasibility of the proposed approach. Results demonstrate that experts emphasize economic sustainability, while social sustainability is an overlooked dimension that requires improvement. The research contributes to the field by developing an applied, industry‐specific sustainability evaluation model for urban water PPP projects using advanced decision‐making techniques. This model provides practical tools for stakeholders to enhance the sustainable performance of urban water infrastructure projects.

Dams, dams and more dams: Issues in evaluating business cases for dam expansion in Australia

Abstract Conventional interventions for mitigating flood risk and increasing water security often focus on large-scale engineering solutions despite evidence of significant cost overruns and negative environmental impacts. This study is an example of participatory research in water economics, motivated (and requested) by concerns from downstream communities and Indigenous stakeholders that impacts of a proposed dam upgrade and storage increase were not adequately considered. We reviewed the preliminary benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of the proposed AUD$2.1 billion investment to expand the Wyangala Dam in Australia and conducted a new BCA incorporating downstream community perspectives. The original economic analysis favoured the proposed investment, but it underestimated costs and overestimated benefits. Our economic analysis was complemented with a qualitative analysis of downstream community perspectives, plus a quantitative analysis indicating that project costs were underestimated by a minimum of 116%. In comparison, benefits were overestimated by 56%. Neglecting the potential impact of climate change also severely overestimated the original benefit-cost ratio. Based on our calculations, expanding the dam was unlikely to yield a net social benefit. In 2023, a new government decided the dam expansion was too expensive. We recommend policymakers prioritise independent evaluations and community engagement for BCAs on large-scale water infrastructure projects to ensure equitable investment decisions that maximise social welfare and adequate environmental assessment.

Risk assessment of public-private partnership water projects in Indonesia

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are vital for infrastructure development in developing countries, integrating private efficiency with public oversight. However, PPP models often face risks, particularly in Indonesia’s water sector, due to its unique geographical and regulatory challenges. This study aims to identify and evaluate risk factors specific to drinking water PPP projects in Indonesia. Using a quantitative approach, structured questionnaires were distributed to experts in the sector, and the data was analyzed using a fuzzy evaluation method. Risks were categorized into location, design and construction, financial, operational, revenue, and political. The study emphasizes that effective risk management, including identification, analysis, and mitigation, is essential for project success. It highlights the importance of stakeholder involvement and flexible risk management strategies. Comprehensive and proactive risk management is key to the success of drinking water infrastructure projects. The research suggests that an integrated and collaborative approach among stakeholders can enhance risk management effectiveness. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, project managers, investors, and other stakeholders, underscoring the necessity for adaptable regulatory frameworks and robust policy guidelines to improve the sustainability and efficacy of future water-related PPPs.

Productivity in motion: a structuration theory lens and inductive analysis of MTM in engineering consulting firms

PurposeThis paper explores the impact of multiple team membership (MTM) on the productivity of team members in engineering consulting firms. MTM refers to employees participating concurrently in multiple teams, a concept closely linked to projectification. Despite the fact that this concept can enhance collaboration, it also introduces coordination challenges that may negatively affect productivity.Design/methodology/approachThrough an inductive approach involving 12 semi-structured interviews with engineering consulting professionals specializing in water and energy infrastructure projects, this paper examines the factors affecting team member productivity in an MTM setting. Following the interviews, a Delphi technique was employed, engaging 16 experts to rank the factors and sub-factors identified from the interview data. This two-stage approach ensured a comprehensive and validated assessment of productivity factors.FindingsThis study develops 8 factors process model grounded in structuration theory to explain the socio-technical mechanisms by which multiple team membership shapes productivity outcomes in engineering consulting firms specialized in water and energy infrastructure projects. Key findings surface micro-foundations, tensions in technology provisions, planning processes, and career development that inform theoretical advances and practical improvements.Originality/valueThis research contributes empirically insights into managing MTM in expert service contexts. Applying Giddens' structuration theory, this study reveals how agency and structures shape productivity across organizational, team, and individual levels. In practice, this study provides recommendations for improving productivity within projectified environments, mainly for team members working in an MTM environment in engineering consulting firms specializing in water and energy infrastructure projects.

WATER ARCHITECTURE IN MALAYSIA: A CASE STUDY IN PENANG, 1957-1985

This research is driven by a fundamental recognition of the pivotal role played by water infrastructure in shaping urban environments, particularly within post-colonial settings. Focusing on the transformative period from 1957 to 1985 in Penang, marked by significant governance and societal changes, our objective is to comprehensively analyse the development of post-colonial water architecture. By identifying key factors influencing the design, implementation, and outcomes of water infrastructure projects, we aim to shed light on both successes and challenges faced during this era. Our motivation lies in extracting valuable insights from historical experiences to guide contemporary policymaking and scholarly efforts, with a specific emphasis on enhancing functionality, efficiency, and sustainability. Employing a history methodology encompassing historical analysis, archival research, and case studies, this research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of post-colonial water architecture in Penang, contributing to the broader goal of fostering efficient, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing water infrastructure for improved urban living. This study found that the evolution of water infrastructure during this period in Penang was not merely a response to increasing urbanisation, but was intricately linked to policy decisions, technological advancements, and societal dynamics. One significant discovery pertains to the impact of governance changes on the efficiency and effectiveness of water projects. The shift in governance structures influenced decision-making processes, project implementations, and overall outcomes in the realm of water architecture.

Framework Model for Financing Sustainable Water and Sanitation Infrastructure in Zimbabwe

Financing frameworks for Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) are lacking in developing countries. This study aims to develop a financing framework for adoption for water and sanitation PPP infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe. Using data covering a 25-year period from 1996 to 2021, Tobit econometric models are applied to the secondary data collected from both international and domestic sources. The results of this study confirm that capital market variables, bank market development, and economic affluence drive the financing of water and sanitation Public–Private Partnership infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe. It was also established that both public and private sources of finance are instrumental in financing water and sanitation PPP projects. The results inform our eventual framework model, which integrates the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) models, sources of finance for water and sanitation PPPs, and the drivers of water and sanitation PPP finance. This study recommends the application of the developed framework in the water and sanitation Public–Private Partnership infrastructure financing policy of developing countries so as to capitalise on the strengths, resources, and networks of the respective stakeholders in the PPPs.

Invisible landscapes. Historical research and groundwater

Groundwater is an essential part of the planet's water reserves. In modern times, this resource has become increasingly important in determining production methods, modernisation processes and urban settlement patterns, often with contradictory connotations: sometimes a complementary factor, other times a completely alternative resource to the large-scale water infrastructure projects promoted by the state and hydraulic technocracies. Yet, Italian and international historiography has so far paid little attention to groundwater as an object of study in its own right. From a methodological point of view, this requires a close dialogue with other scientific disciplines, involving categories such as the Anthropocene, the hydrosocial cycle and shadow waters, as well as a focus on international historiography, looking in particular at the national or subcontinental contexts that have had to deal with the presence of large underground aquifers.

Embedding Municipal Green Bonds in Mexico City's hydrosocial cycle: 'Green' debt and climate action narratives

Mexico City's municipal "green" bonds (MGBs), issued in 2016 and 2018, financed two water infrastructure projects embedded in the city's hydrosocial cycle (the reciprocal transformation of water and society). The issuance of the MGBs created an entanglement of "green" debt and water circulation, which the city government touted as a successful "green" intervention for climate action. However, this article argues that the MGBs also masked climate injustices and colonial legacies that were already prevalent in Mexico City's water circulation infrastructure, affecting aspects including socio-economic and gender issues. To substantiate this claim, this article adopts climate coloniality and climate justice as analytical lenses and urban political ecology as a methodology to critically examine the "green" label epistemologies and climate action narratives that justify the issuance of MGBs linked to water infrastructure projects.

PV to reduce evaporative losses in the channels of the São Francisco’s River water transposition project

Open water transposition channels in hot and arid regions, like those in the São Francisco River Integration Project (PISF) in Brazil, suffer significant water losses through evaporation. This paper proposes covering these channels with photovoltaic (PV) panels to reduce evaporation while simultaneously generating clean energy. The research aims to quantify water savings and energy generation potential across all channel lengths and assess whether the generated solar power can substitute grid electricity for powering the transposition pumps during peak hours, thereby enhancing energy efficiency. This study analyzed the state-of-the-art of PV generation and calculated their solar potential. Identified the specific characteristics of PISF channels and watercourses considering the regional geography, meteorology, irradiation, and social peculiarities. And, finally, assessed the feasibility of covering the watercourses with solar panels. The results reveal that covering all current PISF channels with PV panels could save up to 25,000 cubic meters of water per day, significantly contributing to water security and improving the quality of life for the local population. Additionally, the project could generate 1200 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, meeting the energy demands of the transposition pumps during peak hours and promoting energy efficiency within the project. This research paves the way for utilizing PV technology to address water scarcity challenges and enhance the sustainability of water infrastructure projects in arid regions worldwide.

Multivectority of ecological and economic assessment of water resources of Ukraine

The financial and economic mechanism of balanced use of natural resources includes a wide specification of environmental, organizational, economic and financial instruments. The author's vision of the multi-vector nature of the ecological and economic assessment of water resources is outlined, which is a comprehensive approach to the analysis of the use and management of water resources for making informed decisions with the determination of priorities for Ukraine. It is substantiated that formation of fundamental scientific bases for the evaluation of water resources of Ukraine should be based on the use of ecological and economic approaches, in particular: ecological dimension, economic analysis, social dimension, technical analysis, legal and regulatory context, risk analysis, climate change analysis, water infrastructure projects, water conflict management, environmental impact monitoring and assessment, alternative scenarios. A study of publicly available data on the assessment of the use of water resources of Ukraine was conducted. Based on the results of the study, we proposed the structure of a multi-vector model of the tools of the ecological and economic mechanism of water resources assessment, which is systematized according to interrelated instrumental blocks: ecological dimension — assessment of the impact of any water projects or activities on natural ecosystems, aquatic biological resources, and water quality; economic analysis — consideration of economic indicators; social dimension — assessment of the impact of projects on society; technical analysis — analysis of technical solutions, engineering aspects and technological parameters of water projects; legal and regulatory context — consideration of relevant legislative and regulatory requirements; analysis — risk assessment of possible risks and development of strategies for their management. The ecological and economic approach helps ensure balanced use of water resources, taking into account the needs of humanity and the requirements of the environment. On the basis of the multi-vector nature of the ecological and economic assessment of water resources, recommendations on environmental protection, optimal use of resources, social impact of projects, risk management strategies and other important aspects can be provided. The author's approach to theoretical-methodological approaches and methodological provisions regarding the formation of a model of tools for the ecological-economic mechanism of water resources assessment, the effective influence of which is aimed at balancing the ecological, economic and social components of the use of water resources of Ukraine, is proposed. It is substantiated that the functioning of multi-directional tools of the ecological and economic mechanism will ensure both greening and increasing the economic and social effectiveness of the use of water resources, the consolidation of management aspects around strategic tasks and priorities determined by the Basic principles of the state environmental policy of Ukraine for the period up to 2030.

When rain does not run, a fingerprint of uncoordinated water resources development

The management of water resources in a basin can be challenging due to the sharing of water resources among multiple stakeholders and conflicting interests. This often results in imbalanced water resource development across the basin. While small and medium-sized projects are efficiently implemented in the headwater and upstream areas, the commissioning of large reservoirs faces delays due to the substantial investment required and regulatory processes involved. Also, the lack of coordination and synchronization in water resource development between upstream and downstream regions can lead to water scarcity and inefficient utilization of resources in the lower part of the basin. In this study, we assess the occurrence of water scarcity by comparing the frequency of hydrological and meteorological droughts before and after the detected abrupt change in river flow. To facilitate this assessment, we introduced two new indices: the positive to negative phases of hydrological and meteorological droughts. These indices highlight the increasing occurrence of hydrological droughts, which may not necessarily be linked to meteorological droughts during the identified periods. Furthermore, we propose a Monotone drought analysis method to examine the correlation between meteorological and hydrological droughts and address the impact of anthropogenic activities. We applied this analysis in the Sefid-Rud basin, the largest sub-basin in the southern Caspian Sea situated in Iran, which hosts several dams and reservoirs while more dams are in the construction and planning phase. The assessment took place in 24 gauges across the basin from 1978 to 2017 to detect and evaluate the alterations in flow regimes. Our analysis revealed that the unbalanced development of upstream water resources, driven by uncoordinated water infrastructure projects implemented by various decision-makers, has resulted in a decline of available water at critical points within the basin, which will be aggravated with the commissioning of new dams.

Is the media missing the point on the transnational American desalination pipe dream?

AbstractThe media plays a central role in the dissemination of information about globally significant, transboundary issues like world water policy and infrastructure projects. This discussion makes its point of departure on the topic of large‐scale seawater desalination (producing potable ocean water) in the American borderlands and Southwest region, an area that has recently been plagued by droughts, as well as being the subject of much reporting on the feasibility of expanding water infrastructure across the United States and Mexico. In particular, The New York Times has produced a series of stories on water scarcity in the state of Arizona and the “pipe dreams” of building a desalination plant in Mexico that would produce water to be pumped through a national monument, and into major Arizonan metropolitan areas like Phoenix and Tucson. This reportage has been useful in bringing water concerns amidst climate change to a broader audience, simultaneously challenging the well‐known American “growth machine” paradigm. However, when considering the recent scholarship from social scientists and water policy scholars, the media may be missing the point. In this transboundary region, when we consider existing evidence as well as the reports that have emerged in Arizona and Mexico, it becomes clear that water from desalination is a luxury good, and the industry continues to have a dubious political and economic track record when dealing with water providers, public and private. Therefore, more discussions of desalination in world water policy circles need to be asking who is served by desalination, as it increasingly represents a model of the overproduction of water in places that do not need it, therefore entrenching social inequality.

Data-Driven Analysis of Progressive Design Build in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects

Data-Driven Analysis of Progressive Design Build in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects

How Should Diverse Stakeholder Interests Shape Evaluations of Complex Water Resources Systems Robustness When Confronting Deeply Uncertain Changes?

AbstractRobustness analysis can support the design and operation of large‐scale water infrastructure projects confronting deeply uncertain futures. However, diverse actors, contextual specificities, sectoral interests, and risk attitudes make it difficult to identify an appropriate robustness metric to rank decision alternatives under deep uncertainty. Here, we clarify how methodological choices affect robustness evaluation using the multi‐actor, multi‐sector Inchampalli‐Nagarjuna Sagar water transfer megaproject in Southern India. We compare a suite of water transfer strategies discovered using evolutionary multi‐objective direct policy search (EMODPS), a strategy proposed by regional authorities and the status quo of no water transfer. We stress‐test these strategies across scenarios that capture climatic and socioeconomic uncertainties and rank them using robustness metrics representing sectoral perspectives and priorities of different actors with varying risk attitudes. Results show a considerable impact of metric choices on robustness rankings of strategies, with compromise solution discovered via EMODPS as robust. The no‐transfer strategy results in the worst water supply robustness with an average volumetric deficit of 17% of total historical demands but emerges as a robust alternative for 6 out of 12 combinations of actor‐sectors with high risk aversion. Also, changes in the amplitude of the Indian Summer Monsoon is identified as the most important uncertain factor determining the failure of strategies. Our findings highlight that the selection of robust solutions should be guided by an understanding of how assumed risk attitudes shape stakeholders' perceptions of vulnerabilities. These findings are generalizable to large infrastructure projects with diverse stakeholders and multisectoral impacts.

The Role of Stakeholders in the Adoption of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Municipal Water Infrastructure Projects: A Stakeholder Theory Perspective

South Africa receives insufficient rainfall to meet citizens’ water needs and this is compounded by deficiencies in infrastructure for water services because of inadequate investment and a lack of maintenance. Municipal public–private partnerships (PPPs) for water infrastructure are rarely utilised for several reasons. Central to this paper is the evaluation of the role played by various stakeholders in influencing the adoption and subsequent approval of municipal water PPP projects. This study critically examined the role of each stakeholder and how other stakeholders perceive their effectiveness during the approval process of water PPP projects. The conceptualisation and implementation of PPPs involves managing both the public and private stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes. These diverse stakeholders have different values, anchored by the need for rent extraction (profit maximisation motive) or self-interest, as advanced by stakeholder theory. By means of structured interviews, participants highlighted the limitations of each stakeholder and how these contribute to the negative perception of future PPPs. The obtained data were triangulated with secondary sources. The findings confirmed the pursuit of self-interest by various stakeholders, impacting the pace of PPP adoption of municipal water projects.

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Municipal Public-Private Partnerships in Water-Infrastructure Projects in South Africa

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Municipal Public-Private Partnerships in Water-Infrastructure Projects in South Africa

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Municipal Public-Private Partnerships in Water-Infrastructure Projects in South Africa

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Municipal Public-Private Partnerships in Water-Infrastructure Projects in South Africa

Urban water crisis and the promise of infrastructure: a case study of Shimla, India

Urban water configurations evolve through synergetic relationships that are non-linear, spatially variable, and temporally contingent. As urban development grows in complexity, dense water flow networks intensify within the urban landscape and pose a major challenge to urban water governance. At this junction, this study takes up the specific case study of the water crisis in Shimla, a city situated in the Western Himalayas, which was once the summer capital of British India. Shimla witnessed two significant episodes of a severe water crisis in 2016 and 2018, respectively. While the mainstream discourses identified erratic rainfall due to climate change, urban growth, and tourism as the prime causes, the crisis was not marked by absolute scarcity. Multitude configurations of infrastructure politics, distribution, and access produced scarcity, which differentially impacted the people in the city and continues to do so. Marginalized social groups (class, caste, gender, and religion) and people living on the periphery, such as slum dwellers, daily wage laborers, and informal sector workers with inadequate economic and social safety nets seem to have been missing from the discourse. In addition, the crisis events in Shimla have led to institutional changes in the governance of water by establishing a parastatal body for a water utility in the city and the proposal of mega water infrastructure projects for the bulk supply of water from the Sutlej River. Deriving from a situated urban political ecology approach, this study presents an in-depth empirical understanding of the complex urban waterscape of Shimla city, where the tourism industry is a major stakeholder, and a critical analysis of the emerging “new” politics of water, which is also a politics of infrastructure in Shimla's post-crisis phase. It adopts a qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with different stakeholders in urban water governance in Shimla and a neighborhood-level case study to understand the post-crisis water scenario in the city. Locating the Shimla case study within the broader planetary geography, this study argues that the water crisis, as a context, is dialectical. Despite the implementation of several hydraulic projects and the financialization of nature, the inherent fissures of inequality within the city that cause differential access to water remain.

Multilateral development banks investment behaviour in water and sanitation: Findings and lessons from 60 years of investment projects in Africa and Asia

Abstract Multilateral development banks (MDBs) play a pivotal role in financing water and sanitation infrastructure projects and thus have a major impact on the development of basic services. Although information about the MDBs' investments is publicly available, it is dispersed and not easily comparable. A comprehensive compilation of MDBs' water and sanitation investments has long been lacking. To address this gap, we assess water and sanitation financing by the three MDBs most relevant to Africa and Asia between 1960 and 2020: the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. We compile a new dataset by drawing on 3,639 water and sanitation projects and assess territorial trends, technology choices, distribution of financial burdens, and reforms to institutional arrangements. We find that MDBs' investments align with changing patterns of urbanization and increasingly finance sanitation infrastructures including non-sewered technologies. However, our results also suggest that institutional reforms have addressed utility efficiency through investment in equipment and skills rather than through increased commercialization and private sector participation. The leverage effect of MDB investment on private financing is negligible, whereas co-financing from local governments dominates.