Sustaining the Flow: Conceptions of Environmental Sustainability Among Irrigation Workers in Public Administration

This phenomenographic study examined the qualitatively different ways irrigation workers conceive environmental sustainability in the context of water resource management. Through written interviews with 16 purposively selected participants, the study identified a spectrum of conceptions, from a narrow focus on water conservation to an integrative understanding encompassing ecosystem protection, social equity, economic balance, and adaptive stewardship. Findings reveal that sustainability is perceived as a dynamic, multifaceted process requiring technical efficiency, social inclusion, and institutional adaptability. The study underscores the importance of fostering ecological literacy, participatory governance, and adaptive management capacities among irrigation personnel. Recommendations include comprehensive training programs, stakeholder collaboration, and implementation of monitoring systems to support sustainable irrigation practices. This research advances knowledge on the operationalization of sustainability principles in irrigation governance and contributes to environmental management literature.