Proven institutional, financing and pricing principles for rural water services
Date
2005
Authors
Frederiksen, Harald D., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage created a Committee in 2001 to prepare a Position Paper in response to the World Water Vision's proposed "full pricing" of services to ensure sustainability. International experience in the structuring of service entities, cost recovery and financing investments was considered in the adopted response. Historically, beneficiaries formed what have proved to be self-sufficient service entities for urban supply, irrigation and agricultural and storm drainage. Rapid expansion of services by governments after 1945, resulted in services that were not self-sufficient and systems having serious physical deficiencies in design and construction. Under-funding of O&M due to inadequate cost recovery and insufficient subsidies resulted in mounting obligations. Structuring system transfers to beneficiaries has proven difficult at best.
Description
Presented during the Third international conference on irrigation and drainage held March 30 - April 2, 2005 in San Diego, California. The theme of the conference was "Water district management and governance."