Critical Issues For Water And Wasterwater Concessions

Although traditionally the province of state and municipal authorities, a variety of forces have converged lately to create tremendous opportunities for private companies seeking to participate in the ownership and operation of water and wastewater facilities throughout the world, including the United States. Among these forces are:

• a worldwide tightening of potable and wastewater regulatory regimes, often leading to new (and costly) capital improvements;
• a general desire to shrink government budgets by outsourcing to the more nimble and well-financed private sector certain tasks that were previously undertaken by governments;
• a recognition that the private sector is better able to organise, fund and administer research and development in certain areas; and