Evidence-based decision-making on water quality in domestic water supply in Malawi, Ecuador, and Brazil

Scholars and practitioners advocate evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) because facts lead to beneficial outcomes. At the same time, EBDM to reduce risks in water quality is under-studied. We examine types of decision-making by water utilities and government agencies, and the nature and origin of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water policy 2018-06, Vol.20 (3), p.530-545
Main Authors: Amjad, Urooj Quezon, Dalcanale, Fernanda, Kayser, Georgia, Bentley, Peggy, Bartram, Jamie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Advocacy
Climate change
Consumers
Content analysis
Decision making
Division of labor
Domestic water
Drinking water
Environmental health
Environmental monitoring
Evaluation
Freshwater resources
Government agencies
Households
Information sources
Intellectuals
Intelligence
Intelligence gathering
Knowledge
Per capita
Public health
Public policy
Qualitative analysis
Quality management
Quality standards
Risk reduction
Sanitation
Science
Selfmonitoring
Water quality
Water quality standards
Water resources
Water resources management
Water shortages
Water supply
Water utilities
Waterworks
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Summary:Scholars and practitioners advocate evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) because facts lead to beneficial outcomes. At the same time, EBDM to reduce risks in water quality is under-studied. We examine types of decision-making by water utilities and government agencies, and the nature and origin of evidence available to them in their work on delivering safe drinking water to households. Using qualitative content analysis, we comparatively analyze water utilities and government agencies in Malawi, Ecuador, and Brazil. The results show that the water utilities perform combinations of decision-making types on water quality such as implementation, intelligence-gathering, and evaluation and choice, while government agencies perform more intelligence gathering. Sources and types of information are mainly water consumers, guidelines for water quality standards, and self-monitoring from water utilities. The analysis is useful in establishing a foundation for developing evidence-based management within water supply services, and potentially other water resources management activities.
ISSN:1366-7017
1996-9759
DOI:10.2166/wp.2017.184