Water pricing policies and structures and investment promotion in the water sector in Asia and the Pacific

This publication is made up of two sections: water pricing policy and structures, and promotion of private investment in the water supply sector. The first deals with the use of water pricing as a tool for effective demand management. In the current era of rapidly increasing water demand and growing scarcities, it is necessary to manage demand in order to conserve resources. The second section explores options for mobilizing funding for construction of water supply and sanitation infrastructure. Insufficient funding has been identified as the main constraint to development of the required infrastructure in most countries of Asia and the Pacific. Significant additional investments, several times larger than the funding devoted at present, are required to provide safe water supply and adequate sanitation at accelerated rates to meet the rapidly increasing demands of growing populations and increasing economic activity. Promotion of private sector investment could attract additional funding for upgrading water supply and sanitation services, and expanding them to serve additional areas and customers.