Publication:
Governance and Economics of Desalination and Reuse

Abstract
The global challenge of water scarcity is intensified by factors such as population growth, rainfall variability, and water stress, with climate change further affecting the water cycle and impacting food, energy, urban, and environmental systems. In response, there is a global increase in investments in desalination and water reclamation infrastructure. Countries adopting unconventional water resources may need to adapt their institutional structures and management models, potentially involving the private sector. The World Bank has developed a knowledge series comprising five volumes to assist sector authorities in sustainably mainstreaming unconventional water sources. These volumes focus on the following areas: 1) Policies and Regulations, 2) Sector-Level Governance Models, 3) Economic Appraisal, 4) Finance and Delivery Models, and 5) Management Models to Serve Remote Poor Areas.
Link to Data Set
Citation
World Bank. 2025. Governance and Economics of Desalination and Reuse. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43649 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.
Associated URLs
Associated content
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    Towards a Strategic Analysis of Water Resources Investments in Kenya : Hydrological, Economic, and Institutional Assessment for Storage Development
    (Washington, DC, 2011-06-30) World Bank
    The objective of this study was to advance the process of prioritizing water storage investments that could reduce water stress in economically important areas. The specific objectives of the study were to (i) outline a comprehensive framework for screening of potential storage sites; (ii) identify important water stressed areas through an updated water balance; (iii) assess alternative multipurpose water storage projects through physical, hydrological and economic criteria; and (iv) analyze institutional and financing aspects of water resources development in Kenya to identify capacity and knowledge inadequacies. The study focused on identifying viable surface water storage projects to increase water supply reliability and mitigate the effects of common multi-year droughts. No new estimates of groundwater resources were made, though they were considered in quantifying overall water availability. The scope of the study was limited to an initial screening of infrastructure options that will increase the reliability of water supply. The state of water service delivery was not assessed as it was outside the scope of this study.
  • Publication
    Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab Countries : A Case for Adaptation Governance and Leadership in Building Climate Resilience
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2012-12-01) Verner, Dorte; Verner, Dorte
    Adapting to climate change is not a new phenomenon for the Arab world. For thousands of years, the people in Arab countries have coped with the challenges of climate variability by adapting their survival strategies to changes in rainfall and temperature. Their experience has contributed significantly to the global knowledge on climate change and adaptation. But over the next century global climatic variability is predicted to increase, and Arab countries may well experience unprecedented extremes in climate. Temperatures may reach new highs, and in most places there may be a risk of less rainfall. Under these circumstances, Arab countries and their citizens will once again need to draw on their long experience of adapting to the environment to address the new challenges posed by climate change. This report prepared through a consultative process with Government and other stakeholders in the Arab world assesses the potential effects of climate change on the Arab region and outlines possible approaches and measures to prepare for its consequences. It offers ideas and suggestions for Arab policy makers as to what mitigating actions may be needed in rural and urban settings to safeguard key areas such as health, water, agriculture, and tourism. The report also analyzes the differing impacts of climate change, with special attention paid to gender, as a means of tailoring strategies to address specific vulnerabilities. The socioeconomic impact of climate change will likely vary from country to country, reflecting a country's coping capacity and its level of development. Countries that are wealthier and more economically diverse are generally expected to be more resilient. The report suggests that countries and households will need to diversify their production and income generation, integrate adaptation into all policy making and activities, and ensure a sustained national commitment to address the social, economic, and environmental consequences of climate variability. With these coordinated efforts, the Arab world can, as it has for centuries, successfully adapt and adjust to the challenges of a changing climate.
  • Publication
    The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan : Water Sector Review Update, Main Report
    (Washington, DC, 2001-02-15) World Bank
    The Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, invited the Bank to assist in updating the Water Sector Review of 1997 as an input into the formulation of a five-year action plan for the water sector. Jordan faces three critical challenges: a) the resource challenge, b) the financing challenge, and c) the institutional challenge. In terms of resource challenge, the challenge of water deficits is compounded by the need to ensure water quality and environmental protection. A systematic action plan for reuse of treated wastewater needs to be formulated in view of the projected increase in the quantity of treated wastewater available for use in the Jordan Valley. In terms of financial challenge, Jordan will have to redouble its efforts at generating significant additional operating income from drinking water supply and irrigation services. Urban water and irrigation tariffs have not increased since 1997. Urgent action is needed on tariffs to ensure full recovery of operating costs and periodic adjustments for inflation. Self-financing of water supply and irrigation services must be a high priority. In terms of institutional challenge, reforming the Water Authority of Jordan and Jordan Valley Authority to focus on essential strategic and bulk water management tasks while divesting retail water services to user or private sector entities is a high priority.
  • Publication
    Arab Republic of Egypt : Integrated Water Resources Management Plan
    (Washington, DC, 2005-06) World Bank
    The challenges facing the water sector in Egypt are enormous and require the mobilization of all resources and the management of these resources in an integrated manner. Changes in the way water resources are currently allocated and managed are inevitable. Accordingly, a National Water Resources Plan for Egypt (NWRP) was launched. The NWRP is a comprehensive document which describes how Egypt will safeguard its water resources in the future, both with respect to quantity and quality, and how it will use these resources in the best way from a socio-economic and environmental point of view. The NWRP needs to be augmented by a transitional strategy including further reform interventions which ensure smooth and enhanced streamlining with Integrated Water Resources Management principles and approaches. The current integrated water resources management plan (IWRM Plan) has been prepared to serve the later concerns and is intended to be a complementary, action-oriented, implementation framework to the NWRP. It addresses the gaps in NWRP and provides for additional measures and provisions which facilitate the transition towards an integrated management approach within the water sector. The IWRM Plan assesses the current water resources management setup and practices along with the ongoing reform efforts led by the MWRI. The Plan identifies the actions agreed upon as major interventions to pursue an effective integrated framework for water management over the next 15 years. Thirty Nine actions falling under 11 major categories are proposed: Institutional reform and strengthening; policies and legislations; physical interventions; capacity building; technological and information systems; water quality; economic and financial framework; research; raising awareness for IWRM; monitoring and evaluation; and trans-boundary cooperation.
  • Publication
    Syria : Irrigation Sector Report
    (Washington, DC, 2001-08-06) World Bank
    The report's objective is to analyze key issues and constraints facing the sector, and propose a set of recommendations and possible areas of support by the World BankHowever, several data gaps exist. Many technical estimates are thus preliminary and incorporate a high degree of uncertainty due to the limited data. Water resources management issues pertaining to international rivers are not discussed. Urban water and sanitation issues are also not addressed in this report (this has been dealt with in an earlier Bank sector note (1999)). The first draft of this report was extensively discussed at a national stakeholder workshop in Damascus, Syria, in April 2000. The workshop participants supported the analysis, the findings, and recommendations of the report and the program proposed for future cooperation with Syria in the sector. This report incorporates the comments received during the workshop and during discussions with Syrian government oficials. This report is organized as follows: The introductory chapter describes the agricultural context. This is followed by a review of the key issues in irigation and water resources management. The third chapter presents an overview of the institutional and legal framework and sector organization. The final chapter discusses the future strategy for the sector and identifies future areas for potential Bank cooperation.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Publication
    Unlivable. How Cities in Europe and Central Asia Can Survive ‒ and Thrive ‒ in a Hotter Future
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-24) World Bank
    Extreme heat is becoming one of the most lethal and underestimated threats to cities in Europe and Central Asia, exacerbating health risks, undermining productivity, and pushing infrastructure to its limits. This report presents new analysis showing that without urgent adaptation, heat-related deaths could double or triple, and economic losses could reach 2.5% of GDP by mid-century. The report identifies cities as both the frontline victims and potential leaders in building resilience, offering a roadmap of practical, high-impact actions. With targeted investments, cities can cool their environments, protect vulnerable populations, and safeguard economic performance in an increasingly hotter world.
  • Publication
    Global Economic Prospects, June 2025
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-10) World Bank
    The global economy is facing another substantial headwind, emanating largely from an increase in trade tensions and heightened global policy uncertainty. For emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), the ability to boost job creation and reduce extreme poverty has declined. Key downside risks include a further escalation of trade barriers and continued policy uncertainty. These challenges are exacerbated by subdued foreign direct investment into EMDEs. Global cooperation is needed to restore a more stable international trade environment and scale up support for vulnerable countries grappling with conflict, debt burdens, and climate change. Domestic policy action is also critical to contain inflation risks and strengthen fiscal resilience. To accelerate job creation and long-term growth, structural reforms must focus on raising institutional quality, attracting private investment, and strengthening human capital and labor markets. Countries in fragile and conflict situations face daunting development challenges that will require tailored domestic policy reforms and well-coordinated multilateral support.
  • Publication
    Firm Foundations of Growth
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-05-22) de Nicola, Francesca; Mattoo, Aaditya; Timmis, Jonathan
    In an era of rapid global technological change, productivity growth in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region has decelerated. The most-productive firms in EAP, the “national frontier,” are lagging behind the world’s leading firms, the “global frontier,” particularly in the digital-intensive sectors driving innovation. This widening gap is critical, as these national frontier firms are pivotal to output, employment, and the dissemination of advanced technologies to other domestic enterprises. Detailed firm-level analysis reveals that barriers to competition are stifling incentives to innovate and are inhibiting the movement of workers and capital to more-productive firms. At the same time, inadequate skills and infrastructure are constraining the region’s capacity to innovate. "Firm Foundations of Growth: Productivity and Technology in East Asia and Pacific" argues that enhancing competition, bolstering digital infrastructure, and developing relevant skills can reignite productivity growth across the region, particularly for frontier firms. This book will be of interest to researchers, businesses, and policy makers dedicated to understanding and addressing the productivity challenges in the EAP region.
  • Publication
    Romania Country Climate and Development Report
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-10-24) World Bank Group
    This report explores how climate action, in line with Romania’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, interacts with the country’s growth and development path. It further suggests priority actions to reduce carbon emissions and build resilience, while supporting inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction. This is the first Climate Country and Development Report (CCDR) to cover a European Union member state and a high-income economy.
  • Publication
    Banking on Cities: Investing in Resilient and Low-Carbon Urbanization
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-03) Deuskar, Chandan; Murray, Sally; Leiva Molano, Juan Sebastián; Khan, Ibrahim Ali; Maria, Augustin
    Cities around the world are responsible for ever-growing shares of people, assets, and economic activities vulnerable to climate disasters. They are also responsible for the majority of the world’s carbon emissions. Cities in low- and middle-income countries still have a window of opportunity to grow in resilient and low-carbon ways, to protect their populations and build strong and sustainable economic foundations. What are the resilient and low-carbon investments that these cities could make in the coming decades? How much will these investments cost, and where can cities look for resources to pay for these investments? These are the questions that Banking on Cities: Investing in Resilient and Low-Carbon Urbanization considers. The publication provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of key resilient and low-carbon investment costs in major urban sectors in all low- and middle-income countries to 2050. These include investments in urban transportation, energy-efficient buildings, solid waste management, water and wastewater, flood protection, and heat resilience. The estimated total cost of these investments revealed by this analysis is sobering: between US$256 and US$821 billion per year. However, “climate” investments are not a separate category of investments that cities need to make in addition to their regular investments. These are core urban investments that cities need to make for their local economic and social benefits in addition to their climate benefits. Banking on Cities advances the discussion on urban climate finance by exploring how cities can identify sources of funding and finance that are suited to different types of resilient and low-carbon urban investments. Just as climate investments are not a separate category of investments, climate finance is not necessarily a separate category of finance. While climate-specific sources, including carbon markets, green bonds, and others, are part of the picture, making these investments will require cities to address their financial fundamentals, including revenues, transfers, creditworthiness, and fiscal efficiency. This report will be a helpful guide for cities and national governments as they develop their urban investment strategies.