Governance Models and Partnerships in the Urban Water Sector: A framework for analysis and evaluation

Abstract

This working paper is part of a research project on governance models and partnerships in water supply and wastewater management in urban areas. The project is a collaboration between Utrecht University and Tilburg University, both of which are located in the Netherlands. Water governance models range from systems that are public (water supply by federal, local or regional governmental agencies, or public water boards), private (privatised supply or production of water, either on a small scale through local markets or by private multinationals) or public-private (interaction and cooperation between public and private actors). The basic idea behind this project is that the specific context determines not only whether or not a model will function, but also the relevance of the specific criteria used to assess its functioning. The aim of the project is to come up with workable (‘specific context proof’) governance models to enhance the organization of water supply and wastewater management in urban areas in terms of different criteria, including service delivery, efficiency of the system, resource conservation, pricing mechanisms and quality of water supplied.