Municipal Water Supply Governance in Canada:
Uptake of Water Conservation Technologies in the Context of Utility Restructuring
Principal Investigator: Karen Bakker Associate Professor Geography, UBC
Co-Researcher: Kathryn Furlong PhD Candidate Geography, UBC
This Project has been made possible through a financial contribution from Infrastructure Canada
IMPACT OF RESTRUCTURINGWhat has been the Affect of Restructuring on the Prioritization of the Following?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
EnvironmentalSustainability
PublicParticipation
Transparency Acountability Full CostRecovery
Pursuit of NPM
Nu
mb
er
of
Resp
on
den
ts
Much Less Important
Somew hat Less Important
Just as Important
Somew hat More Important
Much More Important
RELASIONSHIP TO CONSERVATION UPTAKETo what degree are the following drivers for or inhibitors to the uptake of conservation in the
water sector?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Public Concern Government
Pressure
Changes in
Transparency
New Forms of
Accountability
Infrastructure
Costs
Cost Recovery
Concerns
Environmental
Sustainability
Concerns
Increasing NPM
Nu
mb
er
of
Resp
on
den
ts Strong Inhibitor
Somew hat Inhibiting
No Impact
Somew hat Motiv ating
Strong Driv er
HORIZONTAL ACCONTABILITY Accountability is a key issue among respondents in
this research Water departments and Corporate Services Municipal Government, the Public, and Utilities
Mechanisms Governance Dependent Service Level Agreements Access to Information & Council
ENHANCING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Instrumental in Governance & Restructuring
E.g. Toronto, Hamilton Now Increased Interest from all Sides
Focusing on Key Issues of Public Interest E.g. Environment, FCR, PSP Can Enhance Interest Care to Ensure Well-Rounded Debate
Bridging Technical and Community Programs for Conservation