{"id":83709,"date":"2026-03-09T12:03:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T11:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kwrwater.nl\/actueel\/transitie-naar-duurzame-systemen-gaat-ook-over-sociale-acceptatie-en-gedrag\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T13:59:47","slug":"transitie-naar-duurzame-systemen-gaat-ook-over-sociale-acceptatie-en-gedrag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kwrwater.nl\/en\/actueel\/transitie-naar-duurzame-systemen-gaat-ook-over-sociale-acceptatie-en-gedrag\/","title":{"rendered":"Transition to sustainable systems is also about social acceptance and behaviour"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

What do citizens, users and professionals need to embrace sustainable innovations? The WiCE Acceptance Workshop on social acceptance in the circular water nexus (the interaction between water, energy and food, and sometimes climate and ecosystems) took place on 12 February last. In collaboration with strategic experts from the water sector, we talked about how to create public support for circular water solutions. The workshop was organised in the light of the results of research on topics such as saving water, local sanitation and water reuse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The WiCE Acceptance Workshop focused on the technical, social and communications aspects of the transition to more sustainable water systems. The session covered insights relating to legitimation processes, citizen and operator perspectives, behavioural change and creative interventions.<\/p>\n

The meeting was opened by Sandra Sikkema (KWR)<\/strong>, who welcomed the participants and explained the day\u2019s objectives: a joint exploration of how acceptance, engagement and trust can be strengthened in the transition to circular water, energy and food systems.<\/p>\n

This was followed by a substantive opening talk from Joep van den Broeke (WiCE)<\/strong>, who positioned the workshop in the context of the broader knowledge agenda of the Water in the Circular Economy programme<\/a>. WiCE is working on the integration of transition knowledge, systems knowledge and normative knowledge with the aim of safeguarding water availability in the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cTasting\u201d water<\/h2>\n

As they arrived, participants had the opportunity to \u2018taste\u2019 water in the form of edible water sweets. Each sweet had an individual flavour profile linked to a specific water source such as rainwater, seawater or recycled water. This sensory experience established a bridge between cognitive and affective knowledge.<\/p>\n

The interest from the participants was striking: the \u2018wastewater sweet\u2019 was selected most often. This intervention, which was designed by artist in residence Mariko Hori (KWR)<\/strong>, allowed the participants to experience the theme of acceptance in a tangible way. The experience then fuelled the discussions about trust and perceptions in the presentation that followed.<\/p>\n

Water reuse ambassadors<\/h2>\n

Katja Barendse (KWR) <\/strong>then presented research looking at water reuse ambassadors at Vitens. The study focused on whether employees inside the organisation are willing to communicate positively about water reuse. An experimental installation was used for this purpose where employees could taste recycled water.<\/p>\n

The results show that internal attitudes and examples set by employees play an important role in the acceptance of new innovations in organisations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>
\"image0013\"
The WiCE Acceptance Workshop was opened by Sandra Sikkema (KWR).<\/div><\/div>
\"Wastewater
Artist in Residence Mariko Hori presents \u2018waste water sweets\u2019 to the participants.<\/div><\/div>
\"image009\"
Working in small groups, participants developed prototypes of acceptance and legitimisation strategies relating to the acceptance of circular water solutions.<\/div><\/div>
\"WiCE
The workshop made it clear: validating innovations is a process. <\/div><\/div>
\"2026-02-12_DB_VR_WiCE_1.1\"
The visual record of the workshop was produced by Thea Schukken of De Betekenaar.<\/div><\/div>
\"IMG_6759\"
The artist Mariko Hori created sweets, claiming they were made from rainwater, river water, seawater, canal water and waste water. The waste water sweets were particularly popular. Of course, the real story was that they were all made from drinking water, with edible additives.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"image0013\"<\/div>
\"Wastewater<\/div>
\"image009\"<\/div>
\"WiCE<\/div>
\"2026-02-12_DB_VR_WiCE_1.1\"<\/div>
\"IMG_6759\"<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Round tables – Research insights<\/h2>\n

After a short break, participants collected research insights at four thematic research tables staffed by researchers from different organisations:<\/p>\n