Economics of Water Resources: From Regulation to Privatization

This is a work which probes the fundamental concepts concerning the regulation and privatization of water resources, of water pricing, and of public policies concerning the allocation of water supplied to users. It also examines all of the issues involved in a truly market-determined framework. The book is suitable for courses on water-resource management and planning, and economics of water resources, and as a basic reference work on water resources in general. Whilst the underlying data has been expanded and updated for this second edition, the basic division of the book into four parts has been maintained. The first part presents the conceptual framework within which are examined the interacting elements in the management of water resources and the role of market in water pricing and in quality-graded quantity of water. The book then focuses on water-quality control, on the nature and impact of pollution, on water recycling and re-use, and on the prevailing policy instruments. The third part points to the deficiencies of engineering solutions in the choice of public expenditures needed for the construction of water systems, and stresses the role of privatization and of centralization at the level of river basins. Finally, the book underlines the need for co-ordinating all supply programmes, projected demand, recycling and re-use.