Managing Water as an Economic Resource

"Managing Water as an Economic Resource" examines the roots of the widespread crisis in the world's water sector. Countries in all stages of development and various climatic zones continue to treat water as a plentiful and "free" resource. This results in a search for new supply sources at escalating economic and environmental costs and the persistence of wasteful supply, delivery and consumption systems. James Winpenny argues that planners, managers of water utilities and consumers must begin to treat water as an economic resource. He explains the benefits of allowing the private sector to supply more water and the importance of encouraging water markets where the resource will be most valued. Using global case studies, he evaluates the improved management of existing demand and offers suggestions for introducing measures which would treat water as an economic good and lead to major economic, financial and environmental benefits.

Water, already a scarce resource, is treated as though it were plentiful and free. The task of supplying enough water of the required quality to growing populations is straining authorities and governments to the limit as the economic and environmental costs of new supply sources escalate and wasteful supply, delivery and consumption systems persist. Managing Water as an Economic Resource argues that the root of the crisis is the failure of suppliers and consumers to treat water as a scarce commodity with an economic value. James Winpenny evaluates policies for the improved management of existing demand, and draws on case studies from different countries as he discusses how policies could be implemented to treat water as an economic good conferring major economic, financial and environmental benefits.

Chapter 1 THE WATER PROBLEM; Chapter 2 TACKLING THE PROBLEM; Chapter 3 CONSTRUCTING THE POLICY MIX; Chapter 4 COMPARING THE OPTIONS; Chapter 5 CONCLUSIONS; Bibliography; Index;

James Winpenny