Regulating Municipal Water Supply Concessions
Regulating Municipal Water Supply Concessions

Author: Yan Wei

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-06-28

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 3662436833

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This book discusses the recently introduced concession policy, which is also known as PPP worldwide, on municipal utilities policy in China. In this context, critics have claimed that there is a gap in accountability with regard to concessions. The author utilizes interdisciplinary methods and comparative studies, taking into account the situation in the EU and US to analyze the accountability gap some feel will be created when the policy is implemented. Taking water sector concessions as the subject of discussion, the author distinguishes between three types of accountability: traditional bureaucratic accountability, legal accountability and public accountability. By systematically analyzing the essential problems involved, the book attempts to achieve a better understanding of concession and its application in the context of public utilities and finds that the alleged accountability gap is attributed to traditional bureaucratic accountability in China and the concession system per se.

Privatization of Water Services in the United States
Privatization of Water Services in the United States

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2002-08-20

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13: 0309170761

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In the quest to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of water and wastewater services, many communities in the United States are exploring the potential advantages of privatization of those services. Unlike other utility services, local governments have generally assumed responsibility for providing water services. Privatization of such services can include the outright sale of system assets, or various forms of public-private partnershipsâ€"from the simple provision of supplies and services, to private design construction and operation of treatment plants and distribution systems. Many factors are contributing to the growing interest in the privatization of water services. Higher operating costs, more stringent federal water quality and waste effluent standards, greater customer demands for quality and reliability, and an aging water delivery and wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure are all challenging municipalities that may be short of funds or technical capabilities. For municipalities with limited capacities to meet these challenges, privatization can be a viable alternative. Privatization of Water Services evaluates the fiscal and policy implications of privatization, scenarios in which privatization works best, and the efficiencies that may be gained by contracting with private water utilities.

Legal Frameworks for Transparency in Water Utilities Regulation
Legal Frameworks for Transparency in Water Utilities Regulation

Author: Mohamad Mova Al'Afghani

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-08-12

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1317396383

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Transparency in the regulation of water utilities is essential in order to ensure quality and fairness. This book explores and compares different regulatory arrangements in the water utilities sectors in three jurisdictions to determine which regulatory and ownership model is most transparent and why. The three jurisdictions considered are England (UK), Victoria (Australia) and Jakarta (Indonesia). Following an introduction to the importance of transparency in water utilities regulation, the book provides an overview of the three chosen jurisdictions and their legal and institutional frameworks. Through a comparison of these the author explores the contested and difficult terrain of "privatization", as (often) opposed to public ownership, in which it is shown that the relationships between transparency and ownership models are not as clear-cut as might be assumed. Chapters consider various aspects and outcomes of the regulatory process and the role of transparency, including topics such as regulators' internal governance mechanisms, utilities corporate governance, licensing and information flow, freedom of information and transparency in tariffs and pricing, as well as customer service. The book concludes with a summary of lessons learned to inform the refinement of transparency in utilities regulation.

Water Governance in OECD Countries
Water Governance in OECD Countries

Author: Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)

Publisher: IWA Publishing

Published: 2011-11-04

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 1780400276

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Water Governance in OECD Countries: A Multilevel Approach addresses multilevel governance challenges in water policy implementation and identifies good practices for coordinating water policy across ministries, between levels of government, and across local actors at subnational level. Based on a methodological framework, it assesses the main “coordination gaps” in terms of policy-making, financing, information, accountability, objectives and capacity building, and provides a platform of existing governance mechanisms to bridge them. Based on an extensive survey on water governance the report provides a comprehensive institutional mapping of roles and responsibilities in water policy-making at national/subnational level in 17 OECD countries. It concludes on preliminary multilevel governance guidelines for integrated water policy.

Thirsty Cities
Thirsty Cities

Author: Selina Ho

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019-01-10

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 1108651240

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Why does authoritarian China provide a higher level of public goods than democratic India? Studies based on regime type have shown that the level of public goods provision is higher in democratic systems than in authoritarian forms of government. However, public goods provision in China and India contradicts these findings. Whether in terms of access to education, healthcare, public transportation, and basic necessities, such as drinking water and electricity, China does consistently better than India. This book argues that regime type does not determine public goods outcomes. Using empirical evidence from the Chinese and Indian municipal water sectors, the study explains and demonstrates how a social contract, an informal institution, influences formal institutional design, which in turn accounts for the variations in public goods provision.

Reform of China's Urban Water Sector
Reform of China's Urban Water Sector

Author: Tao Fu

Publisher: IWA Publishing

Published: 2008-03-15

Total Pages: 349

ISBN-13: 1843391430

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Edited by the Water Policy Research Center of the Environment Department of Tsinghua University, this comprehensive report on the Chinese water sector is a collection of findings from recent research conducted by the Center and government consultancy reports. The report presents an overview and analysis of the current situation of the reform of the Chinese urban water sector. This is followed by case studies and appraisals on 17 water industry reform measures collected by the authors in 14 cities. The report then examines key problems of the current water industry reform. The comprehensive scope of this report, the level of detail, as well as the authors’ insights together make this document a unique reference on China’s water industry, as well as an important guide to the future of China’s water management. The book will be extremely useful for public utility reform in China and in other countries. It will therefore be of particular value to government departments, policy advisors, consultants, financing bodies, and utility service providers. The report is part of the Water21 Market Briefing Series. Titles in the series provide more focused insight into aspects of the international water sector. About the authors: Dr Tao FU is Director of the Water Policy Research Center, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China. Dr Miao CHANG is Senior Research Fellow at the Water Policy Research Center, Tsinghua University. Dr Lijin ZHONG is with the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University.

Regulation of Water and Wastewater Services
Regulation of Water and Wastewater Services

Author: Rui Cunha Marques

Publisher: IWA Publishing

Published: 2010-06-30

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 1843393417

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This book, published in collaboration with ERSAR, presents a unique account of governance and regulatory methods used by different countries, states and municipalities that will help regulators and governments all over the world to improve their regulatory approaches. It is the first book to compile such an amount of data about regulatory processes of a wide number of countries from the five continents. It discusses how the characteristics of water and wastewater services call for regulation and how different countries apply distinct regulatory methods. By showing 18 country case-studies, the book offers an interesting perspective as the regulatory models adopted vary immensely depending on geographical location, nature and strength of institutions and governments, political ideology, features and level of development of the countries. In addition, it provides examples of best practices that may be important for policy-makers to enhance the regulatory processes adopted in each country. It looks closely at rules imposed by state and local governments concerning regulatory issues and how they are being applied. Regulation of Water and Wastewater Services covers the fundamental and practical concepts and issues regarding the regulation of water and wastewater services. It describes and compares the regulatory methods adopted in several countries and provides a global overview on regulation. There is detailed coverage of topics such as quality of service regulation, economic regulation and public service obligations. This book is suitable for regulators, academic researchers and students, consultants, operators and managers, policy-makers and other stakeholders. Visit the IWA WaterWiki to read and share material related to this title: http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/RegulationofWaterandWastewaterServicesAninternationalcomparison Author: Rui Cunha Marques, Center of Urban and Regional Systems (CESUR), Instituto Superior Tecnico, Technical University of Lisbon in collaboration with the Portuguese Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR)