Efficiency indicators can be useful to regulators assessing the efficiency of an operation and the wedge between tariff and minimum costs. They allow regulators to control for factors over which the operators have no control (such as diversity of water sources, or water quality or user characteristics).

'Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities: A Review of Experiences in Developing Countries' analyzes the market growth of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the developing world since 1990, and the performance of more than 65 large water PPP projects representing more than 100 million people for access, service quality, operational efficiency, and tariff levels. Although a relatively small portion of the water utilities in the developing world are operated under PPPs (about 7 percent in 2007), the urban population served by private water operators has grown every year since 1990. Despite many difficulties encountered by PPP projects and a few contract terminations, a large majority of contracts awarded since 1990 are still in place. The track record for improving service and efficiency reaffirms the value of PPPs to help turn around poorly performing water utilities, even though the level of private financing did not match initial expectations. Over time, a more realistic market has developed, the number of private investors from developing countries has grown, and contract designs have become more pragmatic concerning risk allocations between partners. The water sector has many features that set it apart from other infrastructure sectors. This book suggests the need for careful consideration of those specificities to successfully involve private operators. Although concessions with private financing have worked in a few places, contractual arrangements that combine private operation with public financing appear to be the most sustainable option in many countries. Policy makers, stakeholders, and donors need to remain heavily engaged in the water sector, especially in the poorest countries and during a global financial crisis. This book contributes to a better understanding of the various options to tackle the many challenges of providing water and sanitation services to urban populations in the developing world.

The continuous growth in the demand for water supply and sanitation services has posed decision makers with the challenge to discover new, and to adapt existing, institutions. Since the last two decades, the most prominent institutional change for the water and sanitation sector is neo-liberalism. Neo-liberalism manifests itself in the water sector

Recognizing that safe and adequate water supplies are an essential component of fighting poverty and disease, the ADB Water for All Publication series focuses on understanding the water issues facing poor people in developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region. This document summarizes both a comprehensive study on water in 18 Asian cities and a regional workshop held to present the findings of the study to representatives of civil society and the media and examine the role these groups play in finding solutions to improve access and quality of water for the urban poor.

Raising adult wages through a minimum wage law can in some circumstances have the paradoxical effect of increasing the amount of child labor. In other words, using minimum wage legislation as a form of international labor standard can exacerbate problems of child labor.

The water sector has long been identified as ripe for private sector investment. Prolonged neglect by the public sector has resulted in an urgent need for significant commitment of finance and management resources. International and non-governmental organisations have identified water as the next industry to experience substantial global expansion, with concomitant business opportunities. However, the development of private involvement in this sector has been slow; only recently has this state of affairs shown signs of improvement. The water sector provides an essential service and manages a vulnerable and valuable resource. Private sector involvement must therefore follow the principle of sustainable development, to combine the forces of economic growth with responsible resource management, equitable distribution of benefits and protection of people and the environment. This book provides a commercial, contractual and legal view of water projects on an international scale. It is a practical guide for use by public sector authorities considering private sector involvement, private sector investors considering entering or expanding in the water sector and lenders or investors interested in financing such projects. The context of this book is international, therefore it does not focus on any particular legal system, but rather legal concepts which will apply to most jurisdictions.