Republic of Belarus : Municipal Water Sector Review

Abstract

This paper offers a diagnostic of the water and wastewater sector for the Republic of Belarus, addressing the sector's institutional, organizational, technical, and economic aspects, with a specific focus on urban areas. Significant national investment programs have enabled Belarus to significantly improve the quality of water and wastewater services, but major challenges remain. Water utilities show an overall acceptable performance that could be improved upon, especially in small towns. The sector's legal and institutional framework is well-defined and functional, but an insufficient operational regulation undermines the efficiency of services. The water and wastewater sector in Belarus urgently requires modernization. This review recommends that utilities be regionalized to generate economies of scale; the capacities, means, and resources be pooled; and access to funds be facilitated. Utility regulation needs to be reinforced by the introduction of benchmarking or yardstick competition, and by the set-up of performance-based contracts with their asset-owners. Key recommendations to improve the efficiency of utility operations include the development of a performance-oriented management culture and the involvement of the private sector.