PERCEPTIONS OF EQUITY AND PROCEDURAL PREFERENCES FOR WATER ALLOCATIONDECISIONS

The concepts of equity and procedural justice have greater significanc e as competition for water resources increases. In this study procedur al preferences and attitudes towards equity in groundwater allocation were measured for residents of Perth, Western Australia. The most pref erred procedure was arbitration. Moot and market-driven allocation pro cedures were the least popular. Preferences for specific procedures we re not modified by the degree of conflict in the allocation. Attitudes towards equity in water allocation revealed two factors: ''egalitaria nism '' and ''proportionality. '' Most people supported an egalitarian view of water allocation. There was a significant positive correlatio n between support for egalitarianism and positive attitudes towards pr ocedural justice. Positive attitudes towards proportionality were asso ciated 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 .