Design Thinking Methodology to Achieve Household Engagement in Urban Water Sustainability in the City of Huelva (Andalusia)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article should be strongly revised in order to improve its readability. Authors are encouraged:

1) to edit English; The text is not fluent and there are some unclear points (for instance see line 100: probably an ‘and’ is missed after ‘innovation’; please rephrase lines 104-107). Lines 89 and 99, lines 568, 580, 591: ‘On the other hand’ repeated several times. Lines 94-97: citation seems detached from the text. Probably a new paragraph is not needed;

2) to clarify and simplify problem statement (Introduction), research question(s), research design, methodology, results and discussion.

Author Response

REVIEWER 1

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article should be strongly revised in order to improve its readability. Authors are encouraged:

• to edit English; The text is not fluent and there are some unclear points (for instance see line 100: probably an ‘and’ is missed after ‘innovation’; please rephrase lines 104-107). Lines 89 and 99, lines 568, 580, 591: ‘On the other hand’ repeated several times. Lines 94-97: citation seems detached from the text. Probably a new paragraph is not needed;

RESPONSE

We greatly appreciate your comments. We have edited the text and thoroughly revised it. Regarding stylistic and language issues, we have implemented the suggestions to review. We have eliminated undesirable repetitions such as "On the other hand", replacing them with other equivalents that give greater homogeneity to the text. We have also removed the citation that appeared between lines 94 and 97.

          2) to clarify and simplify problem statement (Introduction), research question(s), research design, methodology, results, and discussion.

RESPONSE

We have provided greater content in all sections of the article, trying to add clarity in each of them. We highlight below the changes introduced in each of them.

1. To improve the “Introduction” section:

1. We have followed your recommendations, providing more references and clarifications that could strengthen the context in which this paper is framed. Specifically, we have introduced the following references that highlight other international experiences in the field of water education among citizens:

Andreas Buerkert. Eva Schlecht. Rural-urban transformation: a key challenge of the 21^st century. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst (2019) 115:137–142.

Buerkert, A. Landscape transformation processes in two large and two small cities in Egypt and Jordan over the last five decades using remote sensing data. Landscape and Urban Planning (2020), 197, 103766.

Hussam Hussein. A critique of water scarcity discourses in educational policy and textbooks in Jordan, The Journal of Environmental Education (2018), 49:3, 260-271, DOI: 10.1080/00958964.2017.1373620

Ide, T., & Tubi. Education and environmental peacebuilding: insights from three projects in Israel and Palestine. Annals of the American Association of Geographers (2020), 110(1), 1-17.

b. We have also added other references that explain the relationship between water and other challenges of cities, which follow a logic of interdependence between them (water-energy-food nexus), especially important in an intermediary city like Huelva:

Chefchaouen Declaration-Charter of the Intermediary Cities of the World. 1st World Forum Intermediary

Cities. Chefchaouen, Morocco, 25 July 2018. Available online: https://intermediarycities.uclg.org/sites/

intermediarycities.uclg.org/files/2018-07/EN_Declaration%20Charter%20of%20Intermediary%20Cities%

20of%20the%20World.pdf (accessed on 28 June 2020).

Martinez, P.; Blanco, M.; Castro-Campos, B. TheWater–Energy–Food Nexus: A Fuzzy-Cognitive Mapping Approach to Support Nexus-Compliant Policies in Andalusia (Spain). Water 2018, 10, 664. [CrossRef]

c. In addition, we found it interesting to also highlight the reference on human needs to frame the relationship of the citizen with urban water:

Alderfer, C.P. An empirical test of a new theory of human needs. Organ. Behav. Hum. Perform. 1969, 4, 142–175. [CrossRef]

d. We have given more details on the continuity of this article (citizen engagement in the private sphere) with a previous one (citizen engagement in its public sphere) and how this complements the one initially referenced. We have described the conclusions of the analysis of public behavior of citizens in the case of Huelva through ISUDS.

e. Additionally, we have explained more extensively why this article and its purpose are interesting, revealing that the main challenge for the city of Huelva is the invisibility of water by citizens, which requires increasing their engagement with the more active participation of households in the efficient use of water (mobilize the citizen). The proposal is that this can be achieved through tools and strategies adapted to each type of citizen. One of those paths is through Design Thinking (DT).

2. Regarding improvements in the “Materials and Methods” section:

a. We have removed a paragraph to improve the consistency of the text.

b. We want to highlight that there are other methodologies that are not purely DT, but that place people as active agents that contribute decisively in making sustainability issues visible, as an important part of the community's agenda. We have considered it essential to enrich this section. This is the case explained by Hussam Hussein in his article "A critique of water scarcity discourses in educational policy and textbooks in Jordan".

c. Furthermore, we have highlighted the importance of enhancing the trust factor through methods and actions that improve the "service brand" of the water company that deals with the client. These methods are intended to be tested through the web-based prototype where the "service brand" is highlighted. Among them, we have highlighted educational methods, such as the example given by Ide, T., & Tubi (Education and environmental peacebuilding: insights from three projects in Israel and Palestine).

d. In general, we have tried that the adopted methodology, based on DT, could be replicated in other investigations. We have cited the main elements of DT, which presents a rich variety (more than 172 possibilities), highlighting those that in our opinion were better suited to our challenge.

3. Regarding improvements in the "Results" section:

1. Description of the Suez group challenge to which we responded and which as a result gave rise to the framework presented based on DT methodologies, approved by the Suez group to be carried out in its investee company “Aguas de Huelva”. This section intends to show some results, advanced steps, and milestones achieved in this project.
2. Details of how the households participating in the project were selected within the city of Huelva are given. The randomness required in this type of experimentation was balanced with the logistical, budgetary, management, and time limitations that did not condition the validity of the framework approved by Aguas de Suez.

4. Finally, in the “Discussion” section,

We have added a factor to reflect on, such as the duration of the project and similar experiences. We have highlighted that there is a challenge to solve between what is the long-term and short-term focus to achieve the engagement of households regarding their relationship with water. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I have read with interest your paper. I think it is quite good; I have inserted my comments in the attached pdf, suggesting how to further improve it. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

We appreciate the time and effort the reviewers have dedicated to providing feedback on ways to strengthen our paper. We have incorporated changes that reflect the suggestions the reviewers have provided. We also hope that the edits and responses we provide below satisfactorily address all the issues and concerns you and the reviewers have noted.

REVIEWER 2

Principio del formulario

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have read with interest your paper. I think it is quite good; I have inserted my comments in the attached pdf, suggesting how to further improve it. 

peer-review-7745590.v1.pdf

RESPONSES IN RED

Thank you for your kind comments and suggestions. We have provided greater content in all sections of the article, trying to add clarity in each of them. We highlight below the changes introduced in each of them.

1. To improve the “Introduction” section:

a.Concerning your first comment in line 27 of the original text: Final del formulario

 “Good, but you need to justify the importance of this focus also here and not on your previous paper”, we have given more details on the continuity of this article (citizen engagement in the private sphere) with a previous one (citizen engagement in its public sphere) and how this complements the one initially referenced. We have described the conclusions of the analysis of public behavior of citizens in the case of Huelva through ISUDS.

b. In your comment in line 34:

 “Interesting aspect (rural urban migration) which often results in land and water change use. Please read and include the general reading on the topic of Andreas Buerkert and Eva Schlecht: Buerkert, A., & Schlecht, E. (2019). Rural–urban transformation: a key challenge of the 21st century. And the other article of Andreas Burkert on how this impacts land and water use in similar regions: Buerkert, A. (2020). Landscape transformation processes in two large and two small cities in Egypt and Jordan over the last five decades using remote sensing data. Landscape and Urban Planning, 197, 103766”.

We have followed your recommendations, providing more references and clarifications that could strengthen the context in which this paper is framed. Specifically, we have introduced the following references that highlight other international experiences in the field of water education among citizens:

Andreas Buerkert . Eva Schlecht. Rural–urban transformation: a key challenge of the 21^st century. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst (2019) 115:137–142.

Buerkert, A. Landscape transformation processes in two large and two small cities in Egypt and Jordan over the last five decades using remote sensing data. Landscape and Urban Planning (2020), 197, 103766.

c. To your comment on line 44: “Reference needed” although the term “hydrosocial contract” was referenced on line 43, we have re-entered the reference on line 44 as you suggested.

d. Referring to your comment on line 55: “Good point; how to mobilize citizens and make them aware and involved. Please include the role of education; in particular read and include the work on textbooks in shaping young citizens and make them aware and active in environmental and water issues. See the following work I would suggest: Ide, T., & Tubi, A. (2020). Education and environmental peacebuilding: insights from three projects in Israel and Palestine. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 110 (1), 1-17. Hussein 2017, "A critique of water scarcity discourses in educational policy and textbooks in Jordan"

We have followed their recommendations, introducing these references in the text. They are also referenced in the “Materials and Methods” and “Discussion” sections:

Hussam Hussein. A critique of water scarcity discourses in educational policy and textbooks in Jordan, The Journal of Environmental Education (2018), 49:3, 260-271, DOI: 10.1080/00958964.2017.1373620

Ide, T., & Tubi. Education and environmental peacebuilding: insights from three projects in Israel and Palestine. Annals of the American Association of Geographers (2020), 110(1), 1-17.

e. We have also added other references that explain the relationship between water and other challenges of cities, which follow a logic of interdependence between them (water-energy-food nexus), especially important in an intermediary city like Huelva:

Chefchaouen Declaration-Charter of the Intermediary Cities of the World. 1st World Forum Intermediary Cities. Chefchaouen, Morocco, 25 July 2018. Available online: https://intermediarycities.uclg.org/sites/intermediarycities.uclg.org/files/2018-07/EN_Declaration%20Charter%20of%20Intermediary%20Cities%20of%20the%20World.pdf (accessed on 28 June 2020).

Martinez, P.; Blanco, M.; Castro-Campos, B. TheWater–Energy–Food Nexus: A Fuzzy-Cognitive Mapping Approach to Support Nexus-Compliant Policies in Andalusia (Spain). Water 2018, 10, 664. [CrossRef]

f. In addition, we found it interesting to also highlight the reference on human needs to frame the relationship of the citizen with urban water:

Alderfer, C.P. An empirical test of a new theory of human needs. Organ. Behav. Hum. Perform. 1969, 4, 142–175. [CrossRef]

g. Additionally, we have explained more extensively why this article and its purpose are interesting, revealing that the main challenge for the city of Huelva is the invisibility of water by citizens, which requires increasing their engagement with more active participation of households in the efficient use of water (mobilize the citizen). The proposal is that this can be achieved through tools and strategies adapted to each type of citizen. One of those paths is through Design Thinking (DT).

2. Concerning improvements in the “Materials and Methods” Section:

a. Your comment on line 252: “Can you please tell us more on how participants were selected, why they were the right ones to involve, and how your positionality may have influenced your data and their analysis?” We have considered it more appropriate to introduce your suggestion in the “Results” section, as one of the milestones achieved in the development of the project. Specifically, details are given of how the households participating in the project were selected within the city of Huelva. The randomness required in this type of experimentation was balanced with the logistical, budgetary, management and time limitations that did not condition the validity of the framework approved by Aguas de Suez.

b. We have removed a paragraph to improve the consistency of the text.

c. We want to highlight that there are other methodologies that are not purely DT, but that place people as active agents that contribute decisively in making sustainability issues visible, as an important part of the community's agenda. We have considered it essential to enrich this section. This is the case explained by Hussam Hussein in his article "A critique of water scarcity discourses in educational policy and textbooks in Jordan".

d. Furthermore, we have highlighted the importance of enhancing the trust factor through methods and actions that improve the "service brand" of the water company that deals with the client. These methods are intended to be tested through the web-based protoype where the "service brand" is highlighted. Among them we have highlighted educational methods, such as the example given by Ide, T., & Tubi (Education and environmental peacebuilding: insights from three projects in Israel and Palestine).

e. In general, we have tried that the adopted methodology, based on DT, could be replicated in other research. We have cited the main elements of DT, which presents a rich variety (more than 172 possibilities), highlighting those that in our opinion were better suited to our challenge.

3. In the “Results” Section:

a. Description of the Suez group challenge to which we responded and which as a result gave rise to the framework presented based on DT methodologies, approved by the Suez group to be carried out in its investee company “Aguas de Huelva”. This section intends to show some results, advanced steps and milestones achieved in this project.

b. As we have mentioned before, details of how the households participating in the project were selected within the city of Huelva are given. The randomness required in this type of experimentation was balanced with the logistical, budgetary, management, and time limitations that did not condition the validity of the framework approved by Aguas de Suez.

4. Finally, in the “Discussion” section:

We have added a factor to reflect on, such as the duration of the project and similar experiences. We have highlighted that there is a challenge to solve between what is long-term and short-term focus to achieve the engagement of households regarding their relationship with water.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Authors have significantly improved the original article. Now it is ready to be published.

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript is indeed improved and I can see the authors have put efforts in uplifting its quality incorporating the comments of both reviewers. Fine with me.