Water Papers

2021-12-02, Andres, Luis A., Misra, Smita, Joseph, George, Thibert, Michael, Fenwick, Crystal

Tariffs are essential but not the only pathway to cost recovery, addressing affordability, and managing water conservation. To maximize their potential, they must be well designed, complemented by appropriate instruments, adequately regulated, and understood by customers. This report builds upon that one, and provides policy makers with the information needed to design better tariffs to further the economic efficiency, affordability, and environmental sustainability of water supply services. Through a layered and comprehensive analysis of the most prevalent tariff structures, it provides policy makers with specific guidance on pricing water supply services in response to the sector’s often-competing goals. This document comprises a synthesis of fifteen unique research papers that, combined, articulate a step-by-step thought process for designing effective tariffs with a view to achieving sustainable development goal (SDG) 6.

2021-05-23, World Bank

This case study is part of a series prepared by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice to highlight existing experiences in the water sector. The purpose of the series is to showcase one or more Two of the main pillars of a circular economy are resource efficiency and zero (or minimum) waste. By significantly reducing water losses and improving operational efficiency, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) is embracing circular economy principles toward a more sustainable future.of the elements that can contribute toward a Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) system. This case focuses on the experience of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

2021-09-15, Delgado, Anna, Rodriguez, Diego J., Amadei, Carlo A., Makino, Midori

Rethinking urban water through the circular economy and resilience lenses offers an opportunity to transform the urban water sector and deliver water supply and sanitation services in a more sustainable, inclusive, efficient, and resilient way. Circular Economy principles have emerged as a response to the current unsustainable linear model of "take, make, consume, and waste." In a circular economy, the full value of water – as a service, an input to processes, a source of energy and a carrier of nutrients and other materials – is recognized and captured. This report presents the Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) Framework together with global case studies that show the benefits of becoming circular and resilient. It describes the key actions needed to achieve three main outcomes: 1) deliver resilient and inclusive services, 2) design out waste and pollution, and 3) preserve and regenerate natural systems. The report sets out to demystify circular economy by showing that both high-income and low-income countries can benefit from it.

2021-03-18, World Bank

There are close to four hundred water utilities in Indonesia with varied performance and capacity but only around half are considered well performing. Inefficient operations has been identified as one of the key issues hampering performance and reducing utilities’ capacity to provide reliable water supply services. If not addressed, water utilities’ inefficiency could hamper government efforts to achieve development targets. High rates of nonrevenue water (NRW) pose a major challenge to the operational efficiency of many of Indonesia’s water utilities. This case study is part of a series prepared by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice to highlight existing experiences in the water sector. The purpose of the series is to showcase one or more of the elements that can contribute toward a Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) system. This case focuses on interventions on the utility’s supply side to increase efficiency and minimize waste.

2021-09-09, World Bank

This case study is part of a series prepared by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice to highlight existing experiences in the water sector. The purpose of the series is to showcase one or more of the elements that can contribute toward a Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) system. This case focuses on the experience of Dakar, Senegal.

2021-03-17, World Bank

Chennai, a city on the southeastern coast of India and the state capital of Tamil Nadu, has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Chennai is the automotive hub for India and is also home to several other industries ranging from petrochemicals to hardware manufacturing, textiles, and apparel. Because of urbanization and economic growth, Chennai’s population has increased more than fifty percent over the past two decades. The city’s rapid growth has created several water challenges. This case study is part of a series prepared by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice to highlight existing experiences in the water sector. The purpose of the series is to showcase one or more of the elements that can contribute toward a Water in Circular Economy and Resilience (WICER) system. This case study focuses on the experience of Chennai in India.