42
• Technological solutions for water-related problems may both impede or foster
more far-reaching systemic changes of the water sector.
In the short and medium term, technical solutions can provide the desired results
for a certain water-related problem. In the long run, however, the focus on a merely
technical approach for solving water-related problems can hamper more extensive
and sustainable systemic changes, such as modifi cations in water consumer patterns, changes in agricultural cultivation practices towards a greater climatic adaptability or the introduction of economic incentive instruments. This may be due to
the above-mentioned path dependencies. For instance, Libecap ( 2011 ) has illustrated how past arrangements to meet conditions of the time have constrained contemporary economic opportunities, using measures implemented in the American
West in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and their effect on today’s
water markets as an example.
• MWEPs can result in external effects that need to be considered.
Water technologies imply external effects, i.e. concern other individuals, groups or
societies are affected without being compensated. Examples include a positive or negative carbon footprint or potentially negative and positive effects on the environment.
These effects and their fi nancial, social, economic and ethical consequences need to be
included in an overall assessment of MWEPs. Most MWEPs tend to be supply-oriented
and neglect external effects. However, state intervention regulation or demand-oriented
measures like the introduction of water saving devices or pricing policies may turn out
to be more sensible when they are compared to the establishment of MWEPs (such as
the installation of sea water desalination plants in the case of Israel, Becker 2010 ).
• MWEPs affect public and private stakeholders on all societal levels.
For a successful implementation of technical solutions, a broad participation and
an involvement of the end users in the planning process and benefi ciaries throughout all phases of the planning and operation process is likely to have a positive
effect. Participation can help to build trust and enhances the cooperation between
the users and planners. With concern to an overall project perspective, the early
participation of users can help to reduce the costs for implementation and operation.
For example, Newig et al. ( 2005 ) have shown that the participation of interested
parties and the broader public can be an important instrument to both deal with and,
where possible, reduce uncertainty associated with the implementation of the
European Water Framework Directive (WFD), which involves technological and
systemic measures on different societal levels.
3.4 An Evaluation Framework of MWEPs
Taking into account the defi nition and the general principles mentioned above, the
complex and far-reaching impact (both desired and undesired) of major water engineering projects becomes obvious. Therefore, transdisciplinary perspectives and
S. Hoechstetter et al.
• Technological solutions for water-related problems may both impede or foster
more far-reaching systemic changes of the water sector.
In the short and medium term, technical solutions can provide the desired results
for a certain water-related problem. In the long run, however, the focus on a merely
technical approach for solving water-related problems can hamper more extensive
and sustainable systemic changes, such as modifi cations in water consumer patterns, changes in agricultural cultivation practices towards a greater climatic adaptability or the introduction of economic incentive instruments. This may be due to
the above-mentioned path dependencies. For instance, Libecap ( 2011 ) has illustrated how past arrangements to meet conditions of the time have constrained contemporary economic opportunities, using measures implemented in the American
West in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and their effect on today’s
water markets as an example.
• MWEPs can result in external effects that need to be considered.
Water technologies imply external effects, i.e. concern other individuals, groups or
societies are affected without being compensated. Examples include a positive or negative carbon footprint or potentially negative and positive effects on the environment.
These effects and their fi nancial, social, economic and ethical consequences need to be
included in an overall assessment of MWEPs. Most MWEPs tend to be supply-oriented
and neglect external effects. However, state intervention regulation or demand-oriented
measures like the introduction of water saving devices or pricing policies may turn out
to be more sensible when they are compared to the establishment of MWEPs (such as
the installation of sea water desalination plants in the case of Israel, Becker 2010 ).
• MWEPs affect public and private stakeholders on all societal levels.
For a successful implementation of technical solutions, a broad participation and
an involvement of the end users in the planning process and benefi ciaries throughout all phases of the planning and operation process is likely to have a positive
effect. Participation can help to build trust and enhances the cooperation between
the users and planners. With concern to an overall project perspective, the early
participation of users can help to reduce the costs for implementation and operation.
For example, Newig et al. ( 2005 ) have shown that the participation of interested
parties and the broader public can be an important instrument to both deal with and,
where possible, reduce uncertainty associated with the implementation of the
European Water Framework Directive (WFD), which involves technological and
systemic measures on different societal levels.
3.4 An Evaluation Framework of MWEPs
Taking into account the defi nition and the general principles mentioned above, the
complex and far-reaching impact (both desired and undesired) of major water engineering projects becomes obvious. Therefore, transdisciplinary perspectives and
S. Hoechstetter et al.