What does Private Water Supply embrace

Jack Moss, AquaFed, Paris represents private water service providers. He sees his organization as a channel to international stakeholders, such as the UN. His company offers expertise on problem-solving and capacity building. The private sector should be an option for solutions. 46% of the world’s population does not have running water at home. Even Western European countries show deficits. Switzerland itself admitted having waste water imperfections. Several water-related activities have to be considered separately due to practical and ethical reasons, no matter whether the service providers are private or public. Allocation, strategies and regulations are subject to political responsibility. Services, infrastructure, maintenance, financing and pricing are operational activities. Namely, politics, administration and rendering of services have to be considered separately. Just like the public sector, the private sector can carry out tasks of the water industry according to specific political instructions. But the private sector cannot establish quality standards nor allocate water services. The private sector cannot own water. Drinking water supplies and waste water management are complex issues with many stakeholders. Social, environmental, territorial and economic criteria, past and future play a part. The modern Jakarta, for example, developed itself unidirectionally, along one single drinking water supplier. Systems develop themselves. The following basic questions arise in water management: Who is responsible? Who takes the decisions? Who owns the infrastructure? How are disputes solved? Contractual agreements are essential. Nevertheless, partnerships have to be established and fostered. Roles, responsibilities, rights, instruments, risks, performance assessments and rewards have to be defined. Does privatization increase prices? It is more likely that hidden costs will become transparent.