Integrated water research and how it can help address the challenges faced by Germany’s water sector

The article describes the approach of integrated water research, in particular its overall design, the use of suitable procedures and methods, and the dissemination of its results. Based on four case studies from the German water sector, focusing on water demand forecasting, assessment of technical options, improvement of user acceptance and the selection of measures, respectively, the article explores the potential benefit of integrated water research for addressing the challenges facing the water sector today. Analysis of the case studies shows that the incorporation of integrated water research into a project design results in added value for the practical relevance of the results achieved as well as facilitating the transfer of the results into practice. In each case, different methods were combined within the research process to achieve the common goal of integrating science and society and demonstrate the vital importance of careful planning and method selection if one is to bring about the desired effects. It thus follows that integrated research is not undertaken spontaneously at short notice but is mostly implemented as the result of a general decision after considering the respective benefits and potential added value as well as the resources available. The time span of such research and the intensity of integration can vary considerably. However, a certain amount of flexibility in the process is inevitable in order to react to intermediate results and needs and is a precondition for the serious application of an integrated water research process.