Ethics and Participatory Water Planning

Greater attention needs to be given to ethics related to the use, organisation and coordination of participatory forms of water planning. Working with diverse groups of people on water management issues requires the ability to understand and collectively make a range of decisions on the content, design and implementation of participatory processes. Ethical questions and sensitivities arise in such work including issues of changing existing power structures, privacy conditions and cultural sensitivities. Existing procedures for ethics clearance and codes of ethics, conduct and professionalism aim to increase adherents’ awareness of ethical issues and mitigate risks. Yet it is common in some jurisdictions involved in participatory water planning to overlook both codes and the ethical implications of the processes in which they are involved. Examples of ethical dilemmas from recent participatory water planning processes in Australia, Bulgaria and the Pacific Islands are provided to highlight challenges and suggest improvements for future practice.