After decades of conflict, Cambodian water planners are struggling to provide supplies to urban residents. Many households do not use water from a network connection. Instead they rely on dirty and unreliable sources. Getting poor householders connected is unlikely without subsidies and regulatory reform.
Published on: 03/03/2009
A new journal article uses household data from a range of Cambodian urban settings to assess the demand for water and identify the main factors determining household access to network water. [O]utside the capital {Phnom Penh] the urban [water] coverage rate is only 15 percent. Many people obtain their water from rivers, streams, tanks, wells or private vendors [who charge] prices that are usually about ten times higher than the official rate. An examination of 200 household variables and price data reveals that:
The researchers advise policymakers - in Cambodia and other developing countries - to use targeted subsidies to encourage more poor households to connect. Once they are connected even the less well-off households may be able to afford a non-subsidised tariff. This advice is based on growing evidence that with targeted connection subsidies, the probability of excluding a deserving household is significantly smaller than with a general consumption subsidy. Poorer households are often willing to pay more for water and sanitation services than what they cost to operate and maintain. The [article urges] the Cambodian authorities to:
Full reference: Basani, M., Isham, J. and Reilly, B. (2008), The determinants of water connection and water consumption : empirical evidence from a Cambodian household survey. World development ; vol. 36, no. 5 ; pp. 953-96.
Source: id21, 01 March 2009
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