Title | Key issues and recommendations for consumer protection : affordability, social protection, and public participation in urban water sector reform in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia |
Publication Type | Miscellaneous |
Year of Publication | 2003 |
Authors | Paris, FROECD- |
Pagination | 192 p. : 8 box., 14 fig. |
Date Published | 2003-01-01 |
Publisher | OECD |
Place Published | Paris, France |
Keywords | ability to pay, caucasus, central asian republics, eastern europe, institutional aspects, policies, reform, sanitation, sdipol, social aspects, tariffs, water supply, willingness to pay |
Abstract | This report analyses the social issues arising during the municipal water sector reform, particularly those triggered by increasing charges for water supply and wastewater services. It provides national and local decision-makers with practical recommendations to address these problems. This report directs itself mainly to officials in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. In the EECCA countries mentioned above pricing water was an emotional issue because water used to be a small expenditure in the household. Water services were traditionally considered social services and provided at very low prices. With the increase in tariffs, the quality of the water did not enhance in e.g. Ukrain. Another side effect is the decrease in consumption which can cause health problems such as water-related diseases. Most households in the region would be willing to pay more if that meant that the quality of the water increased as well. The analysis provided in this report allows determining an appropriate quality-price balance for water supply and wastewater services, as well as the most important improvements required by the consumers. |
Notes | 17 ref. |
Custom 1 | 202.3 |