Basic acceptance problems in the implementation of measures in the field of water infrastructure

The demographic and climatic change is severely challenging the existing water infrastructure. To meet the new requirements it is not enough to modernize obsolete technical devices. On the basis of the latest findings in science and engineering, new, sustainable management strategies that can be adjusted flexible to the uncertainty of future challenges, have to be developed. Besides suitable technical and scientific solutions, public acceptance is an essential perquisite for the successful implementation of any infrastructure measure. The research objective for this project is to identify the acceptance potential for different groups of stakeholders concerning selected water infrastructure problems and their technical solutions. Further, factors that are influencing the acceptability of a water infrastructure measure positively or negatively should be investigated. In order to identify the cause of conflict, the perceived and real characteristics of the relations between the stakeholder groups, the water infrastructure problems and the technical solutions are of highest importance. Finally, the findings should serve as a basis for the development of recommendations for a best practice communication strategy.