Out of our depth: A social constructionist evaluation of the problematisation and regulation of English waterway pollution

本研究以英国水道污染为例，探讨环境问题社会建构的理论文献。具体而言，将探索三源污染的建设和监管。环境、林业和自然资源管理局确定，未能实现良好生态状况的水体面临的主要压力是：农业、混合污水溢出和城市扩散径流。该项目采用社会问题自然史的适应框架，将这三种形式的水污染概念化为成功或不成功的异常结构。具体来说，它将提请注意这样的结构作为动态过程，其中一个问题是定义和控制的规则创建和执行。在这样做时，它将采用社会建构主义和监管文献。虽然有法规保护英国水道免受污染，目标是到2027年所有河流达到“良好生态状态”，但目前只有14%的河流保持这种状态。水道受到农业化学品、塑料、污水和过量营养物的“迅速多样化的化学混合物”的威胁。一旦进入水道，污染物就会混合，其中单一化学品的影响可能会因与其他化学品接触而加剧或集中。非点源污染的监测极具挑战性，更不用说控制了。由于其流动性，污染物可以成为扩散，并进行跨行政边界，提出了根本的监管challenges.By框架偏差作为一个建设的过程中，研究跟踪如何决定的定义和翻译的水污染到一个可调控的问题持有的执法和行政惯例的影响。这将与监管和执法方面的实际挑战一起考虑。该项目旨在确定和探索在这一过程中导致水污染得不到充分控制的“症结”-包括但不限于私有化辩论。该项目将在水质监管的关键时刻进行。虽然水体在气候变化之后将受到巨大的压力，但PFAS等新兴污染物正在缓慢和反应性的监管下激增。不同的水污染源似乎受到监管机构的不平等对待;道路径流占2021年未能达到良好状态的河流的15%，但几乎没有引起媒体或监管机构的关注。监管机构也忽视了主要基础设施发展（如HS 2）造成的污染。该项目将探索政策制定者如何最好地概念化新污染物，从而提供有效的监管和执法。在环境日益恶化的情况下，研究结果将与其他环境问题相关。在系统的文献综述之后，该项目将采用混合方法，采用探索性案例研究研究设计来调查这些过程。将对来自三种广泛组织类型的“专家”和“精英”成员进行半结构化采访：政府、非政府和民间社会。选择这些类型是为了反映利益相关者参与的范围。与会者将被要求确定有关水污染的定义，相关的规则制定和执行机制的机会和挑战。在这些部门工作的科学家和法律的人员也将接受采访。将对来自政府和非政府来源的关于英格兰各地污染监测和执法的公开数据进行定量二次分析。访谈可能会标记新的数据集进行探索，并使研究人员对调查污染的框架和管理的机会敏感。

This project employs a case study into English waterway pollution to investigate and inform theoretical literature on the social construction of environmental problems. Specifically, it will explore the construction and regulation of pollution from three sources. Identified by DEFRA as the leading pressures on water bodies failing to achieve good ecological status, these are: agriculture, combined sewage overflows, and urban diffuse run-off. Employing an adapted framework of the Natural History of Social Problems, the project conceptualises these three forms of water pollution as successful or unsuccessful constructions of deviance. Specifically, it will draw attention to such constructions as dynamic processes whereby a problem is defined and controlled by rule creation and enforcement. In doing so, it will employ social constructionist and regulatory literature. While regulations exist to protect English waterways from pollution, with targets for all rivers to reach 'good ecological status' by 2027, only 14% of rivers hold this status currently. Waterways are threatened by a 'rapidly diversifying chemical cocktail' of agrochemicals, plastics, sewage, and excess nutrients. Once in watercourses, pollutants are compounded, wherein the effects of singular chemicals may be exacerbated or concentrated in contact with others. Non-point sources of pollution are extremely challenging to monitor, let alone control. Due to their fluidity, pollutants can become diffuse, and be carried across administrative boundaries, posing fundamental regulatory challenges.By framing deviance as a process of construction, the research traces how decisions regarding the defining and translating of water pollution into a regulatable problem holds implications for enforcement and administration practices. This will be considered alongside practical challenges for regulation and enforcement. The project aims to identify and explore the 'sticking points' along this process which allow water pollution to be insufficiently controlled - including but going beyond the privatisation debate.This project will be conducted at a key time for water quality regulation. While waterbodies are set to be placed under significant stress in the wake of climate change, emerging pollutants, such as PFAS, are proliferating under slow and reactive regulation. Different sources of water pollution appear to be treated unequally by regulators; road runoff accounts for 15% of rivers failing to achieve good status in 2021 but attracts little media or regulatory attention. Contamination from major infrastructure developments, such as HS2, have also been overlooked by regulatory bodies. The project is well-positioned to explore how policymakers can best conceptualise new pollutants and therefore deliver effective regulation and enforcement. Findings will hold relevance for other environmental issues at a time of growing environmental degradation.Following a systematic literature review, the project will investigate these processes using an exploratory case study research design employing mixed methods. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with 'expert' and 'elite' members from three broad organisational types: government, non-government, and civil society. These types have been selected to capture the spectrum of stakeholder involvement. Participants will be asked to identify opportunities and challenges regarding the definition of water pollution, associated rule creation and enforcement mechanisms. Scientists and legal personnel working within these sectors will also be approached for interview. Quantitative secondary analysis will be performed on publicly available data from governmental and non-governmental sources regarding pollution monitoring and enforcement across England. Interviews will likely flag new datasets for exploration and sensitise the researcher to opportunities to investigate the framing and management of pollution.