This dataset includes interviews with 22 social researchers (mostly associated with universities and CSIRO) and 39 water managers (professionals in government or corporate bodies involved in urban water supply and demand management) and engineering researchers. Recorded interviews with water managers (between 40-90 minutes) were conducted in their offices or on-site meeting rooms in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. Interviews with social researchers were conducted in their university offices. The interviewees' names and other identifying markers were anonymised. Recordings were used for transcription.