Abstract
Traditional approaches to urban water management are increasingly questioned. To understand whether the alternative Water Sensitive City (WSC) paradigm is applicable in Surabaya, Indonesia, its water governance system was analysed using semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders, questionnaires, and literature. Three main institutional blockages inhibiting a transition towards a WSC were identified: (i) national and local political interference, (ii) lacking institutional coordination, and (iii) commercialisation of Surabaya’s water utility. A discord between water practitioners’ individual beliefs and water management practices also makes changes towards a WSC difficult. Yet, opportunities are found where existing political goals align with elements of the WSC