[en] A planning methodology is developed which provides for the water resource managers and decision makers a procedure for structuring and quantifying public input into water resources management decisions. The method referred to as Quantitative Situational Analysis provides an opportunity to assess and predict the response of public officials, intensely interested groups, and the general public to a technology innovation which may be of a controversial nature. The procedure is especially adapted to those decisions involving low-risk-high-consequence technology. The report discusses the theoretical basis for the method and then develops three case studies involving low-risk-high-consequence technologies. One is the siting of a nuclear power plant, using the Bailly plant, to be located on Lake Michigan. Another is the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the public's perception of its importance and adequacy. The third is the local people's reaction to the U.S. Air Force's decisions to dispose of 2.3 million gallons of herbicide 'Orange' on some Federal land in Utah. Results of each of these case studies are presented