Research theme stakeholders

Reusing city water is an old and widespread practice in the world, which has evolved over time in line with technological advances and challenges (health, environmental, water availability, etc.) faced by societies. From the 1960s onwards, the idea of 'reusing' water from wastewater treatment plants has been the subject of 'success stories' (e.g. Singapore, Windhoek) and is enjoying renewed interest, particularly in European countries (as illustrated by European regulations on the use of treated wastewater for irrigation).

In this "stakeholders" axis, we are interested in the sociotechnical dimensions of waste and in the way in which the renewed use of effluents informs us about the relationship of our societies to water and its technical objects.

This axis brings together several disciplines: sociology, economics, geography, participation engineering, information and communication sciences.

Examples of themes dealt with:

- Reconfigurations of access to water and actors' games (sharing, inequalities, water management)

- Social representations of actors (consumers, farmers, elected officials, etc.) on treated wastewater and its acceptability

- Changes in the regulatory framework of WASP practice and production of scientific knowledge

- Users' willingness to pay (direct and indirect)

- The "technological promise" of LWR: study of the expectations, motivations and interests of the actors involved at local and global levels

- Serious game" and consultation on WASP as a territorial project

Contact: Anne-Laure Collard and Marielle Montginoul (see contact details on the contact page)