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

PHASE I: ONTARIOSept 2005-May 2006

PHASE II: CANADAMay 2006-Sept 2008

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

THANK-YOU!!!www.watergovernance.ca Click ‘Municipal Water Supply’