Publication: Water Utility Turnaround Framework: A Guide for Improving Performance
Date
2018-11-15
ISSN
Published
2018-11-15
Author(s)
Soppe, Gerhard
Janson, Nils
Piantini, Scarlett
Abstract
In many urban areas around the world,
public utilities provide water supply and sanitation (WSS)
services. While some of these urban public water and
sanitation utilities ("water utilities") perform well, others suffer from the types of performance
issues observed in many public sector entities, such as low
operating and investment efficiency. A framework for turning
around poorly performing water utilities will benefit the
management of these utilities, governments with
responsibilities for water utilities, and those providing
technical and financial support for improving the WSS
sector. Improving the performance of water utilities is
difficult because the problems they face are complex and
multidimensional. Problems caused by dysfunctional political
environments, combined with an entrenched backlog of
inefficient practices, cannot be solved by applying standard
technical and managerial techniques. Achieving a sustained
turnaround requires a framework that integrates practical
steps to increase a utility's operational and
managerial efficiency with measures to reverse the
dysfunctional political equilibria in which it operates.
Using a comprehensive turnaround framework is the best
approach to improve water utilities' performance
and efficiency, and increase their ability to access
finance, including commercial finance. Why does this matter?
Evidence shows that water utilities with access to
commercial finance are much more likely to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals.
Citation
“Soppe, Gerhard; Janson, Nils; Piantini, Scarlett. 2018. Water Utility Turnaround Framework; Cadre de redressement des compagnies des eaux; Marco de cambio en los servicios públicos de agua; Water Utility Turnaround Framework : A Guide for Improving Performance; Un guide d’amélioration de la performance; Guía para mejorar el desempeño. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/30863 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”