Over the last 20 years, tremendous progress has been made in providing potable water and sanitation services to the poor in developing countries.
| Title | When the cup is half full : improving water and sanitation services in the developing world |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 1993 |
| Authors | Briscoe, J |
| Pagination | p. 6-15, 28-37: 6 box., 6 fig., 7 photogr., 2 tab. |
| Date Published | 1993-01-01 |
| Keywords | brazil, case studies, community participation, environmental degradation, health aspects, institutional framework, mcadv, mexico, pakistan, policies, sanitation, social aspects, thailand, urban areas, water resources management, water supply |
| Abstract | Over the last 20 years, tremendous progress has been made in providing potable water and sanitation services to the poor in developing countries. Rapid population growth and urban migration, however, have foiled the United Nations' plan to achieve global coverage during the Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade of the 1980s. Investments in sanitation and water offer high economic, social, and environmental returns, but current approaches will not suffice to meet the demand for future domestic water and sanitation services. According to this World Bank article four key policy changes need to be made: improved management of water resources (market-based reallocation between agricultural, industrial and domestic users); providing wanted services (level of services based on willingness of users to pay); public investment in waste disposal; reforming institutional arrangements. The latter includes improving performance of utilities, improved management, separation of regulation and provision of services, expanding private sector's role, increasing community involvement, creating an enabling environment (government playing a facilitating role), improving learning from experience. |
| Notes | 75 ref. |
| Custom 1 | 202.3, 302.3 |
