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个案，探讨环境问题社会建构的理论文献。具体而言，它将探索三源污染的建设和监管。DEFRA认为水体未能达到良好生态状态的主要压力是：农业、综合污水溢出和城市漫溢径流。该项目采用社会问题自然史的改编框架，将这三种形式的水污染概念化为成功或不成功的越轨建设。具体来说，它将引起人们对动态过程结构的注意，在动态过程中，问题是通过规则创建和执行来定义和控制的。在此过程中，它将采用社会建构主义和监管文献。虽然有保护英国水道不受污染的法规，并制定了到2027年所有河流达到“良好生态状态”的目标，但目前只有14%的河流达到了这一状态。水道正受到由农用化学品、塑料、污水和过量营养物质组成的“快速多样化化学混合物”的威胁。一旦进入水道，污染物就会混合在一起，其中单一化学品的影响可能会加剧或与其他化学品接触时集中。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，污染物可以扩散，并跨越行政边界，构成根本性的监管挑战。通过将越轨行为视为一个构建过程，该研究追溯了有关将水污染定义和转化为可调节问题的决定如何对执法和管理实践产生影响。这将与监管和执法方面的实际挑战一并考虑。该项目旨在确定和探索在这一过程中导致水污染控制不足的“症结”——包括但不限于私有化辩论。本工程将在水质调控的关键时期进行。随着气候变化，水体将承受巨大压力，而PFAS等新出现的污染物正在缓慢而被动的监管下激增。监管机构似乎对不同来源的水污染一视同仁；道路径流占2021年未达到良好状态的河流的15%，但很少引起媒体或监管部门的关注。监管机构也忽视了HS2等重大基础设施建设项目造成的污染。该项目有利于探索政策制定者如何最好地将新污染物概念化，从而提供有效的监管和执行。在环境日益退化之际，研究结果将对其他环境问题具有相关性。在系统的文献回顾之后，该项目将使用采用混合方法的探索性案例研究设计来调查这些过程。半结构化访谈将与来自三大组织类型（政府、非政府和民间社会）的“专家”和“精英”成员进行。选择这些类型是为了捕捉涉众参与的范围。与会者将被要求确定有关水污染定义、相关规则制定和执行机制的机遇和挑战。在这些部门工作的科学家和法律人员也将被约谈。定量的二次分析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。访谈可能会为探索提供新的数据集，并使研究人员对调查污染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.