Karunsena, G; Gajanayake, A and Udawatta, N (2024) Wastewater management in the construction sector: A systemic analysis of current practice in Victoria, Australia. International Journal of Construction Management, 24(11), pp. 1166-1175. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Construction activities can use large amounts of water resulting in the discharge of contaminated wastewater from construction sites. However, research into wastewater management in the construction sector is scarce. The objective of this exploratory study was to understand the regulatory and practical aspects of wastewater management in the construction sector in Victoria, Australia. Exploratory interviews among 15 participants from regulatory authorities, local councils and construction firms were conducted. The interviews showed that there was a disconnect between the construction and water authorities and a lack of understanding of wastewater related regulations among construction practitioners. The findings of the interviews were used to develop a system map to illustrate how the system operates and to identify possible intervention points to optimise the system. The evidence from this study suggests that a more collaborative approach across the different agencies is vital to streamline wastewater management practices in the construction sector and the regulatory framework.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building industry; systems thinking; trade waste; wastewater |
| Index terms: | management practice, evidence, regulation, construction sector, agency, interview, systems thinking, construction site, construction practitioner, construction firm, exploratory study, building industry, construction activity, Victoria, Australia |
| Subjects: | analytical methods, regions and continents, construction operations, work location, organization, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, political science, industry analysis, sociology, professional development, Geography, research methods, management |
| Topics: | Site Management, Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here