Recent Papers on Regulation, Norms, and Standards in Developing Countries
Content Table
- The reform of public water utilities: successful utility reform efforts as punctuated equilibria
- Elements for setting up discharge standards in developing countries based on actual wastewater treatment plant performance
- Cost determination and sustainable financing for rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa
- Cost determination and sustainable financing for rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa
- Contamination of drinking water between source and point-of-use in rural households of South Africa and Zimbabwe: implications for monitoring the Millennium Development Goal for water
- Marketing urban water services: information needs for water utility managers in developing countries
- Deficiencies in drinking water distribution systems in developing countries
- Related Articles
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The reform of public water utilities: successful utility reform efforts as punctuated equilibria
Water Policy Vol 11 No 4 pp 401–412 © IWA Publishing 2009 doi:10.2166/wp.2009.062
Klaas Schwartz
Department of Management and Institutions, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft 2601, DA, The Netherlands. Fax: +31-15-2122921. E-mail: k.schwartz@unesco-ihe.org
Abstract
The reform of public water utilities has received increasing attention over the past decade. In this paper, the reform paths of five public water utilities from five different developing countries are compared. This paper finds that for each case, an external event or crisis brought the issue of water services high on to the political agenda, leading to a window of opportunity in which relatively radical reforms could be implemented.
However, as political support for continued reforms withered, performance improvements became difficult to sustain. Without continued political support, performance improvements can be followed by a relapse to poor performance.
Elements for setting up discharge standards in developing countries based on actual wastewater treatment plant performance
Water Science & Technology—WST Vol 58 No 10 pp 2001–2008 © IWA Publishing 2008 doi:10.2166/wst.2008.756
Sílvia C. Oliveira and Marcos von Sperling
Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. do Contorno 842-7° andar-Centro, Belo Horizonte, MG 30.110-060, Brazil Tel.: (55-31) 3238-1935 E-mail: marcos@desa.ufmg.br
Abstract
The paper analyses the capability of 166 full-scale wastewater treatment plants operating in Brazil, in order to achieve different quality targets for wastewater discharge. These targets cover a wide range of possible situations, reflecting usual practices adopted worldwide. Six different treatment processes have been investigated: septic tank + anaerobic filter, facultative pond, anaerobic pond + facultative pond, activated sludge, UASB reactors alone, UASB reactors followed by post-treatment. The parameters investigated were: BOD, COD, suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and thermotolerant coliforms. Most technologies showed a poor performance, and some of them were not capable to achieve even relaxed standards. The paper presents elements for setting up discharge standards in developing countries, based either on values that may be achieved by treatment processes commonly applied or on best available technologies.
Cost determination and sustainable financing for rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa
Water Policy Vol 9 No 4 pp 373–391 © IWA Publishing 2007 doi:10.2166/wp.2007.012
Peter A. Harvey
Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), Institute of Development Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK . Tel: 01509-228743Fax: 01509-211079p.a.harvey@lboro.acuk
Abstract
Access to safe, sufficient and affordable water in rural Africa will not increase unless sustainable financing strategies are developed which ensure the sustainability of existing water services. There is a strong need for international donors and national governments to confront the true costs associated with sustained service provision in order to develop practicable long-term financing mechanisms. This paper presents a systematic approach that can be applied to determine the overall cost of service delivery based on respective cost estimates for operation and maintenance, institutional support, and rehabilitation and expansion. This can then be used to develop a tariff hierarchy which clearly indicates the cost to water users of different levels of cost recovery, and which can be used as a planning tool for implementing agencies. Community financing mechanisms to ensure sustained payment of tariffs must be matched to specific communities and their economic characteristics; a blanket approach is unlikely to function effectively. Innovative strategies are also needed to ensure that the rural poor are adequately served, for which a realistic, targeted and transparent approach to subsidy is required.
Cost determination and sustainable financing for rural water services in sub-Saharan Africa
Water Policy Vol 9 No 4 pp 373–391 © IWA Publishing 2007 doi:10.2166/wp.2007.012
Peter A. Harvey
Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), Institute of Development Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK . Tel: 01509-228743Fax: 01509-211079p.a.harvey@lboro.acuk
Abstract
Access to safe, sufficient and affordable water in rural Africa will not increase unless sustainable financing strategies are developed which ensure the sustainability of existing water services. There is a strong need for international donors and national governments to confront the true costs associated with sustained service provision in order to develop practicable long-term financing mechanisms. This paper presents a systematic approach that can be applied to determine the overall cost of service delivery based on respective cost estimates for operation and maintenance, institutional support, and rehabilitation and expansion. This can then be used to develop a tariff hierarchy which clearly indicates the cost to water users of different levels of cost recovery, and which can be used as a planning tool for implementing agencies. Community financing mechanisms to ensure sustained payment of tariffs must be matched to specific communities and their economic characteristics; a blanket approach is unlikely to function effectively. Innovative strategies are also needed to ensure that the rural poor are adequately served, for which a realistic, targeted and transparent approach to subsidy is required.
Contamination of drinking water between source and point-of-use in rural households of South Africa and Zimbabwe: implications for monitoring the Millennium Development Goal for water
Water Practice & Technology © IWA Publishing 2006 | doi10.2166/wpt.2006.032
Stephen W. Gundry1, James A. Wright2, Ronan Conroy,3,Martella Du Preez4, Bettina Genthe4, Sibonginkosi Moyo5, Charles Mutisi6, Jerikias Ndamba5, Natasha Potgieter7
1Water and Environmental Management Research Centre, University of Bristol, 83 Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1US, UK.
2Department of Geography, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
3Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Mercer Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
4Division of Water, Environment and Forest Technology, CSIR Environmentek, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
5Research and Technical Services, Institute of Water and Sanitation Development, PO Box MP 422 Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
6Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
7Department of Microbiology, University of Venda for Science and Technology, Thohoyandou, Venda, South Africa
Abstract
Aims: To assess contamination of drinking water in rural Zimbabwe and South Africa
Methods: We conducted a cohort study of 254 children aged 12-24 months in rural South Africa and Zimbabwe. In dry and wet seasons, we measured water quality, using the indicator organism E. coli, at improved and unimproved sources, in household storage and drinking cups. We also recorded hygiene and socio-economic factors for each household.
Results: For improved sources, samples with E. coli counts less than 10 cfu/100ml were as follows: at source: 165 (88%); in household storage 137 (59%); in drinking cups 91 (49%). The corresponding values for unimproved sources were: source 47 (29%); household storage 32 (19%); drinking cups 21 (18%). This significant deterioration in microbial quality of water from improved sources was seen in both countries and both survey rounds.
Conclusion: Although improved sources generally delivered ‘safe’ water at the point-of-supply, 12% of source samples were contaminated and as such were ‘unsafe’. Furthermore, in household storage, more than 40% of samples were ‘unsafe’. For monitoring the Millennium Development Goal for water, UNICEF-WHO are assuming an equivalence between ‘improved’ sources and ‘safe’ water. Our findings suggest that this equivalence may be unsound
Marketing urban water services: information needs for water utility managers in developing countries
Water Science & Technology: Water Supply Vol 6 No 5 pp 17–25 © IWA Publishing 2006 doi:10.2166/ws.2006.715
J. Mugabi* and C. Njiru**
*Water Engineering and Development Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK (E-mail: j.mugabi@lboro.ac)
**Water Engineering and Development Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK (E-mail: c.njiru@lboro.ac.uk)
Abstract
A decade ago the ‘Dublin Principles’ shifted global thinking towards treating water as an economic good. The concern was that overly supply-driven approaches had been financially unsustainable, and therefore failed to reduce the service gap. Accompanying this conceptual shift has been a wider move towards focusing on the customer's needs and preferences and their willingness to pay, and applying marketing techniques to meet those needs in a financially sustainable manner. Although regarded as a positive move, its success is heavily dependent on how well water utilities understand their customers. This paper examines existing literature on the determinants of customer willingness to use and pay for improved water services in developing countries. The contribution of past research to our understanding of the behaviour of customers, with regard to service level choice and payment for services, is critically analysed. Basing on this analysis, we develop and discuss a generic model of a water consumer's decision-making process. The model serves two purposes. First, it consolidates past research into a coherent framework to facilitate implementation of the marketing approach. Secondly, we use the model to identify critical customer information that water utility managers need to know in order to be customer-focused.
Deficiencies in drinking water distribution systems in developing countries
J Water Health 03 (2005) 109-127
Ellen J. Lee and Kellogg J. Schwab
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St Room E6620, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2103, USA, Phone (410) 614-5753, Fax: (410) 955-9334, E-mail: kschwab@jhsph.edu
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St Room E6620, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2103, USA, Phone (410) 614-5753, Fax: (410) 955-9334, E-mail: kschwab@jhsph.edu
Abstract
Rapidly growing populations and migration to urban areas in developing countries has resulted in a vital need for the establishment of centralized water systems to disseminate potable water to residents. Protected source water and modern, well-maintained drinking water treatment plants can provide water adequate for human consumption. However, ageing, stressed or poorly maintained distribution systems can cause the quality of piped drinking water to deteriorate below acceptable levels and pose serious health risks. This review will outline distribution system deficiencies in developing countries caused by: the failure to disinfect water or maintain a proper disinfection residual; low pipeline water pressure; intermittent service; excessive network leakages; corrosion of parts; inadequate sewage disposal; and inequitable pricing and usage of water. Through improved research, monitoring and surveillance, increased understanding of distribution system deficiencies may focus limited resources on key areas in an effort to improve public health and decrease global disease burden.
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