Regulation in rural areas

Regulation is a key function for delivering sustainable water services, both in urban and rural environments. In the context  of small towns and rural areas, it may seem difficult to introduce regulatory mechanisms that are able to apply national rules while also balancing potentially conflicting interests at the local level. For this reason, it is often necessary to adopt a mix of approaches to regulate water and sanitation services, relying on a mix of contracts, national level regulatory bodies and in some cases, regulatory relays at the local level. Examples of alternative approaches to regulation abound in the thirteen countries reviewed by Triple-S and are highlighted in this Triple-S briefing note.