Stakeholder involvement in the drinking water supply system: a case study of stakeholder analysis in China

Stakeholder involvement in drinking water supply systems is crucial for the successful management and improvement of drinking water supply systems. However, there is no agreement on stakeholders, their interests, and levels of importance, especially in drinking water supply systems. To achieve efficient stakeholder management, the first step is to understand who the major stakeholders are and what their interests, influence, and relationships are. This paper discusses the role of stakeholders in drinking water supply systems through the consideration of the results of a stakeholder analysis. The primary data were collected from interviews and questionnaires with representatives of stakeholders in Shenzhen, China. The findings indicate that water companies, governments, consumers, and polluting companies are the most important and definitive stakeholders in drinking water supply systems in China. However, their interests, attitudes, and influence on drinking water supply systems are quite different.