The water transition in motion: lessons from the policy afternoon

Policymakers, researchers and drinking water professionals met on 22 June to discuss the future of our water system. The meeting was inspired by the insights from the Water Transition and Drinking Water Knowledge File. It consisted of three sessions. First, the role of strategy determination was discussed in a keynote address; next, the considerations relating to action were discussed in the context of Flanders’ commitment to using rainwater and, finally, a working session looked ahead to 2050.

A shared narrative as a basis

The afternoon began with a keynote address by Kim Coates (speaking in her capacity as a former strategy officer at Oasen), Wilfred Appelman (of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water and Management) and Klaasjan Raat (KWR), who talked about the role of the drinking water sector in the water transition.  Their central message was:real change begins with a shared narrative.

The water utilities have addressed this by working on a joint sector vision. In the next step, a scenario study has been initiated in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to establish a clearer understanding of the challenges leading up to 2100 and to define strategic guidelines. These initiatives provide, among other things, input for the National Water Programme, in which drinking water has been fully integrated.

Klaasjan Raat then went on to explain how the water transition involves a shift in thinking: from the water chain to the water system.  A systemic perspective brings not only the challenges into sharper focus, but also the solutions. He emphasised that the recovery of the water system is an important guiding principle for the water transition.

Presentation on ‘Drinking water and the water transition’ by, among others, Kim Coates (formerly of Oasen).

An example from Flanders: getting to work with rainwater

What drives action in the water transition? That question was the focus of the panel discussion chaired by Henk-Jan van Alphen and featuring Tico Michels (Brabant Water), Carl Heyrman (Aqua Flanders) and Christophe Claeys (VVSG).

Christophe Claeys and Carl Heyrman outlined how the Flemish initiative to promote rainwater reuse by individual households came about. They described how the introduction of the obligation to reuse rainwater in Flanders stemmed from public convictions (“it’s a shame to flush high-quality drinking water down the toilet” and “using low-grade water for low-grade applications is more sustainable”), and the search for space to retain water and keep it out of the sewer system (“rainwater cisterns as free space for buffering” and “an important step in Lansink’s ladder for rainwater”). Although improvements are possible in the current rainwater system (collective collection systems may well be cheaper and more sustainable than individual ones), they argue that this is one of the reasons why people in Flanders use less tap water and are more aware of their water consumption (tap water consumption is approx. 80 litres per person per day).

Supplementing the Flemish case, Tico Michels explained the thinking behind Brabant Water’s decision to participate in rainwater collection projects, for example in a new construction project in Den Bosch. He argued that this is a way for water companies to deploy their expertise – in areas such as water distribution and treatment – to support social change, but that Brabant Water is also looking critically at the ways in which this is desirable and feasible. What are the implications, for example, for the responsibilities of drinking water utilities upstream of the meter?

Finally, the panel discussed the institutionalisation of a measure of this kind. In Flanders, there is a regulated inspection regime governing the commissioning of water and rainwater systems. It would be beneficial to include a potential inspection regime of this kind and the possible role of water utilities in this respect in the discussion in the Netherlands.

Henk-Jan van Alphen (KWR), Christophe Claeys (VVSG), Carl Heyrman (Aqua Flanders) and Tico Michels (Brabant Water) (from left to right) in discussion during the policy afternoon

Dilemmas in action

During the latter part of the afternoon, Nicolien van Aalderen and Noor van Dooren (KWR) put the participants to work on specific potential solutions. Those solutions had been developed earlier in the four study group meetings in the context of the Knowledge File.

The central question was: to what extent can we achieve the water transition in the current context? The ‘context’ consists of policy, legislation and regulations, but also of norms and values, and how we look at water. Working in four groups, the participants discussed the intended changes ??associated with the water transition, and how and when changes may be required in this ‘context’. The discussion looked ahead to 2050.

• Collaboration in the water chain

How can we allocate responsibilities differently? Suggestions were made for far-reaching alliances in the water chain but also for more fundamental issues such as re-evaluating the shareholding structure of drinking water utilities. At present, municipal and provincial authorities are the shareholders. Could this be done differently? By increasing the level of involvement or by including water authorities?

• Drinking water in the landscape 

A holistic approach to water – and not drinking water alone – was central here. Spatial planning instruments such as the Dutch Rural Areas Act (WILG) were cited as ways of establishing a stronger position for drinking water in the landscape.

• Recycling rainwater

The context is already on the move: market players are increasingly taking the lead in the installation of rainwater systems. Looking ahead to 2050, the participants expected there to be a discussion about the role of water utilities. Will they become suppliers of several types of water, and not drinking water alone?

• Sector-wide collaboration

This group discussed industrial water. A vision of the future: in 2050, drinking water utilities will no longer be supplying industry with drinking water. Connecting networks will make it possible to share industrial water between companies. The question of who will take the lead remained open: this role may be assigned to the water utilities but other parties may emerge.

During the working session, various possible solutions were discussed in sub-groups.

Key insights

Three key action perspectives were outlined during the course of the afternoon:

1. Decide where you want to take the lead. Water utilities can deploy their expertise for elements in the transition that are currently not included in their core remit but that will require deliberate decisions.
2. Understand how context influences change. Legislation and regulations, but also norms and values, determine what is possible. Change can emerge inside the context as long as you focus on opportunities that guide the redesign process, without confirming problematic structures.
3. Dare to experiment. The challenges are known. There is a shared desire to learn by doing and to work together.

Go here to read more about the structure of the Water Transition and Drinking Water Knowledge File and the fact sheets.