ASU water expert says social science must be part of addressing water insecurity
"Human cooperation is often built around feelings of shared identity — and this is true of cooperation around water systems too," said Amber Wutich, President’s Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and director of the Center for Global Health. ASU photo
From climate change to pollution to a lack of viable infrastructure, the causes of water insecurity are complex.
Still, according to Amber Wutich, President’s Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and director of the Center for Global Health, all of the causes have one commonality: human behavior.
In a newly released commentary, “Water Insecurity is Human: Why Social Science Must be at the Core of Water Security Research and Practice,” Wutich argues that water insecurity is socially determined.
Through water overdraft, water overallocation, water pollution and climate change, humans are directly causing — and in some cases exacerbating — global water insecurity. Even in high-income countries like the U.S., Wutich notes that millions of people experience water poverty. A finding that she believes supports the need for social scientists to engage in water security research.
“It is increasingly important to understand who is affected, how, and why — and what solutions exist for people whose water needs cannot be met by large-scale infrastructure investments alone,” Wutich wrote.
Wutich nominated for Big 12 Faculty Award
The Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding faculty at Big 12 institutions who have excelled in areas of innovation and research on their campus. One faculty member from each of the 12 universities was selected for the honor.
Wutich, who was recently selected as ASU’s representative for the Big 12 Conference’s Faculty of the Year Award, spearheads Arizona Water for All, or AW4A, which combines social infrastructure with physical infrastructure to create community partnerships in an effort to address water insecurity in Arizona.
AW4A is one of the five pillars of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, led by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory in collaboration with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.
ASU News sat down to talk with Wutich about new approaches to water insecurity.
Question: The Water Insecurity Research Network defines water insecurity as times “when water is insufficient for human needs, including drinking, cooking, sanitation, hygiene, livelihoods and culturally valued uses.” What are some examples of culturally valued water uses, and why is it important that these needs be considered in solutions to water insecurity?
Answer: One example of a culturally valued use is water for religious ceremonies, such as baptism. Another example of a culturally valued use of water is for communal baths where people meet to socialize.
Q: At the most basic level, the current approach to infrastructural and regulatory reforms to address water insecurity seems to revolve around the idea of “otherness,” rather than collaboration. What role does a lack of empathy have on water systems?
A: Human cooperation is often built around feelings of shared identity, and this is true of cooperation around water systems too. However, when people perceive groups as “other” they are often less motivated to share resources and work together. In societies where one group controls most of the wealth and water, less wealthy, less powerful and more marginalized groups tend to be excluded from water service.
Q: What do we gain when approaching water insecurity with an eye toward collaboration and the integration of technology, large-scale infrastructure investments and, perhaps most importantly, community-based solutions?
A: It is impossible to deliver clean, safe, sufficient water without collaboration across sectors. But community involvement is sometimes left out. When we include communities, we get real-world knowledge about how people cope with water problems. This can help us improve large-scale solutions.
Q: When researchers from various disciplines come together to solve a problem, often tensions arise due to differences in how they approach the problem. What conditions would be necessary for social scientists, engineers and biophysical scientists to find a common ground and successfully work together to address water insecurity?
A: People have to be incentivized to work together. For example, the U.S. National Science Foundation funds grants that encourage scientists from different disciplines to cooperate to find solutions to big problems. But at a more philosophical level, climate change is creating problems at a scale and urgency that requires transdisciplinary solutions — and we are seeing that happen more and more.
Q: You mention that societal valuations of water usage is one of the causes of water insecurity in some populations and not others. In your mind, is there a fundamental societal disconnect that prevents consumers of water-intensive products such as garments and textiles from seeing the impacts of their buying habits on water security, and can social scientists help bridge this gap?
A: Humans are prestige-builders — that is, they tend to do and seek things that are socially valued. This could be a possession, an accomplishment, an experience. When it comes to the social valuation of water, we need to think a bit harder about what we consider prestigious.
If water is life, do we admire and respect people who protect it? If water is essential for industry, do we aspire to be like those who conserve and invest it to build our economy? Rather than expecting individuals to change consumer behavior individually, we probably need to rethink as a society what we value and who we admire.
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