Engaging communities of practice for risk communication in the Hawkesbury Water Recycling Scheme

Sustainable conceptions of urban water management include the recycling of treated effluent and urban stormwater as valued resources. The future acceptability and confidence in these initiatives depends upon pluralist approaches for communicating and managing associated risks. The case study described here focuses on risk communication and management associated with the Hawkesbury Water Recycling Scheme near Sydney, Australia. Action research strategies with communities of practice have contributed to the co-construction of effective risk management strategies. These strategies are both informed by differentiated perspectives and practices, and supported by a network of coordinated information. The focus on communities of practice is discussed in relation to pragmatic approaches to action research and systemic inquiry, along with the implications for the role of universities in engaging with the complex issues of sustainability.