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Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Directly and Indirectly Influencing Water...
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Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Directly and Indirectly Influencing Water Resources and Conservation Outcomes

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Use and Scarcity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 June 2026 | Viewed by 9170

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kyle Maurice Woosnam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, University of Georgia, 180 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: social-cultural impacts of tourism; resident-tourist relationships; sustainable tourism; community
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kristin E. Gibson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Interests: natural resources communication; stakeholder-centered program evaluation; digital and traditional media; conservation programming; quantitative social science meth-ods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Effective water conservation requires not only biological knowledge but also an understanding of human behavior, values, and communication. Social sciences are increasingly recognized as critical to conservation success, yet there remains a need for more systematic integration across practice, education, and outreach. This Special Issue invites contributions that explore the role of social sciences in water conservation efforts, focusing on how research informs education programs, public engagement, and communication campaigns related to water and environmental stewardship. We seek empirical studies, case studies, and reviews that highlight challenges, innovations, and best practices in applying social science insights to conservation. We especially welcome work that examines how broader social, cultural, and economic factors, those that indirectly influence water resources and conservation outcomes, are identified and addressed through education and communication. We encourage exploration of broader factors that impact water, such as the connection between reducing food waste and preserving water resources. We especially encourage work that examines interdisciplinary collaborations, stakeholder engagement, and the development of educational tools and communication strategies.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Environmental education;
  • Water resource communication;
  • Social dimensions of water conservation;
  • Stakeholder perceptions and community engagement;
  • Behavior change strategies in conservation;
  • Indirect factors impacting water resources;
  • Training future conservationists in social science principles.

Prof. Dr. Kyle Maurice Woosnam
Guest Editor

Dr. Kristin E. Gibson
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • water resource communication
  • environmental education
  • water conservation behavior
  • social evaluation methods
  • watershed management
  • behavioral modification

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2012 KB  
Article
A Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Industrial Water Use in African Countries
by Edwin Kipkirui, Jianfu Zhao, Sha Lu, Duncan Onyango Mbuge and Tao Wang
Water 2025, 17(22), 3313; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223313 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 799
Abstract
Africa’s industries have been developing at a pace more rapid than other continents, including Asia, over the past two to three decades. This research investigated the industrial water use in 1987–2017 in twenty major African countries, representing 77% of the population and 81% [...] Read more.
Africa’s industries have been developing at a pace more rapid than other continents, including Asia, over the past two to three decades. This research investigated the industrial water use in 1987–2017 in twenty major African countries, representing 77% of the population and 81% of the GDP in Africa. A decoupling analysis of industrial water use from economic growth was also carried out, and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was conducted. The key findings included the following: (i) HCA could divide the patterns of the countries’ water use into four groups. The group of Algeria, Tunisia, Angola, and Morocco exhibited the highest average industrial water use per capita in 2017. (ii) An expansive negative decoupling became more significant during the 10-year period from 2008 to 2017. (iii) Population growth, economic development, and industrial structure played a prominent role in driving industrial water use over the past two decades. (iv) Technological advancements in water conservation varied across countries and periods. Some countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, and Tunisia, witnessed a more rapid increase in water withdrawal from 2008 to 2017, but less significant progress in water-saving technologies. This research might be informative for decision-makers to formulate sustainable water policies in line with Africa’s sustainable agenda by the year of 2063. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Directly and Indirectly Influencing Water Resources and Conservation Outcomes)
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32 pages, 2515 KB  
Article
Participatory Management of Rainwater in Informal Urban Contexts: Case Study of San Isidro Patios, Bogotá, Colombia
by Camilo Alberto Torres Parra, Yelinca Saldeño Madero, Juan José Castiblanco Prieto, Camila Jaramillo-Monroy and Alejandro Ángel Torres
Water 2025, 17(22), 3236; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17223236 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1377
Abstract
This paper describes the implementation of a rainwater harvesting and treatment system in an informal urban community in Bogotá, using a participatory methodology based on Service Learning (SL). The project began with a territorial diagnosis and community prioritization of needs, identifying access to [...] Read more.
This paper describes the implementation of a rainwater harvesting and treatment system in an informal urban community in Bogotá, using a participatory methodology based on Service Learning (SL). The project began with a territorial diagnosis and community prioritization of needs, identifying access to water and its quality as the main issue. Together with the community, a system for rainwater capture, pretreatment, storage, and filtration was designed and built, adapted to local conditions. Monitoring of physicochemical and microbiological parameters across different climatic periods showed significant improvements in the quality of treated water, meeting national standards for most indicators. Simultaneously, an educational process was carried out through workshops and hands-on activities, strengthening local capacities and promoting hygiene and water management practices. The analysis highlights the system’s adaptability to climate variability, community ownership, and the replicability of the model. It concludes that the integration of appropriate technology, community participation, and education can effectively improve access to and quality of water in vulnerable urban contexts, contributing to quality of life and sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Directly and Indirectly Influencing Water Resources and Conservation Outcomes)
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Review

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41 pages, 2516 KB  
Review
Emerging Contaminants: A Rising Threat to Urban Water and a Barrier to Achieving SDG-Aligned Planetary Protection
by Govindhasamay R. Varatharajan, Jean Claude Ndayishimiye and Pascaline Nyirabuhoro
Water 2025, 17(16), 2367; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17162367 - 9 Aug 2025
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6547
Abstract
Urban water, defined as water not used for agriculture or to support natural ecosystems, is increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pollution. Among the key concerns are emerging contaminants (ECs), a diverse group of largely unregulated chemical compounds that pose growing threats to both water [...] Read more.
Urban water, defined as water not used for agriculture or to support natural ecosystems, is increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pollution. Among the key concerns are emerging contaminants (ECs), a diverse group of largely unregulated chemical compounds that pose growing threats to both water and the life it supports. This review critically examines the challenges associated with the presence of ECs in urban water through two complementary approaches that together offer both scientific and policy-oriented insights. The first approach focuses on evaluating the difficulties in classifying, characterizing, detecting, monitoring, enforcing policies, and assessing the risks of ECs. The second approach focuses on assessing whether current efforts in research, public awareness, regulation, treatment, recycling, and international collaboration align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). Current efforts to address the challenges posed by ECs and to achieve SDG targets remain insufficient, particularly in the areas of treatment and recycling. Globally, only 56% of household wastewater is treated safely, and industrial wastewater treatment in low-income countries remains severely lacking, with coverage under 30%. Globally, the effective management of ECs is hindered by outdated and inadequate treatment infrastructure, low recycling rates, and the technical complexity of handling multi-contaminant waste streams. In developing regions, these challenges are compounded by weak regulatory enforcement and limited public awareness. To effectively address ECs in urban water and fully meet the SDG targets, more integrated and globally coordinated efforts are necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Directly and Indirectly Influencing Water Resources and Conservation Outcomes)
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