Perspectives on innovation: a survey of the Dutch urban water sector

Despite widespread acknowledgement of the need for more sustainable urban water management and the availability of reliable technologies, implementation of new technologies remains limited to small-scale demonstration projects. The receptivity of professionals to innovations seems a determining factor for application of new technologies. An online survey of urban water management professionals in The Netherlands investigated professionals' receptivity to innovations. The results showed that professionals are well aware of innovative technologies. They expect application of these technologies in the near future. However, in general the appreciation of the potential contribution of these technologies to sustainability was moderate.