PERCEPTIONS OF EQUITY AND PROCEDURAL PREFERENCES FOR WATER ALLOCATION DECISIONS

The concepts of equity and procedural justice have greater significance as competition for water resources increases. In this study procedural preferences and attitudes towards equity in groundwater allocation were measured for residents of Perth, Western Australia. The most preferred procedure was arbitration. Moot and market-driven allocation procedures were the least popular. Preferences for specific procedures were not modified by the degree of conflict in the allocation. Attitudes towards equity in water allocation revealed two factors: ''egalitarianism '' and ''proportionality. '' Most people supported an egalitarian view of water allocation. There was a significant positive correlation between support for egalitarianism and positive attitudes towards procedural justice. Positive attitudes towards proportionality were associated with a perception of greater conflict in allocation issues. Sub-groups of individuals high on egalitarianism and proportionality were identified. Proportional individuals were less accepting of mediation.