Citizen Science in Water Quality Monitoring

Abstract

The Dutch water management system is confronted with a lack of awareness among citizens and further faces the consequences of climate change and urbanisation. New governance structures with high levels of citizen participation are required to be fit for the future. An implementation of participation could be citizen science, which is rather unexplored in Dutch water resource management. The thesis’ objective was to develop practical guidelines for practitioners at Dutch water authorities on ‘how to set up a citizen science project’. To get to this objective several research methods and steps were taken. This thesis provides an answer to how Dutch water authorities could incorporate citizen science in their activities, by focussing on the driving forces of both citizens and water authorities whether to engage in citizen science projects mediated by a mobile crowd sensing device. A literature review and case study were used to identify key success factors for citizen science projects. A survey, based on the Self-Determination Theory, was used to identify citizen motivations in water quality monitoring. Using a Q methodological approach three viewpoints on citizen science at water authorities were identified. Additionally it is investigated what role modern technology, such as mobile sensing, could play in designing a citizen science project using a Technology Acceptance Model. The developed guidelines answer how citizen science could be implemented at Dutch water authorities to increase citizens’ water awareness and to adopt governance structures with higher levels of citizen participation.