Generalising broadly there are five competing sets of decision principles,
which are relevant for water related hazards and risks (figure 2).
First, precautionary approaches can be taken or managers can react to
risks as they occur and as public pressure mounts for action (the so
called tombstone approach). Second, safety standards can be uniformly
applied over whole countries or subsidiarity principles can be adopted.
Third, individuals can be left to make their own risk taking or mitigation
decisions or the government at various levels can practice “maternalism”.
Fourth, risk tolerance or safety standard levels can be determined
by professional experts or left to some form of political bargaining
process, which can either be closed to the public or genuinely participatory,
involving all stakeholders. And finally, some principle of cost
allocation needs to be decided; should risk generators pay, or risk bearers
pay or the government pay from general or local taxation