Stepping Up

by Browder, Greg J.; Xie, Shiqing; Kim, Yoonee; Gu, Lixin; Fan, Mingyuan

• ISBN13: 9780821373316
• ISBN10: 0821373315
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-09-15
• Publisher: World Bank

Summary

As China transitions to a market economy, municipal utilities are evolving into commercially viable companies under government oversight. Great challenges confront the reform process for China's water utilities, including rapid urbanization and emerging inequality, coupled with severe water scarcity and degradation.Cities and their water utilities must provide services within a complex mosaic of policies and regulations provided by national and provincial governments. In China, as throughout the world, water is also a sensitive political issue. Governments are keen to provide good water service, but also attuned to the need to ensure that tariffs are socially acceptable. This report presents a strategic framework and set of recommendations for addressing these challenges and accelerating improvements in China's urban water utilities.Drawing upon the World Bank's experience in China, as well as the Bank's global knowledge, the report provides a comprehensive assessment of urban water services, including policy, regulatory, institutional, financial, and technical issues. The report will prove a valuable resource for policy makers, utility companies, and anyone interested in the development of the world's largest water market.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Objectives and Scope	p. 1
Sector Achievement and Performance	p. 11
Sector Challenges	p. 25
2020 Sector Vision and Path Forward	p. 37
Goal Based Sector Governance	p. 45
Improving Municipal Utility Governance and Structure	p. 69
Moving Up the Utility Financial Sustainability Ladder	p. 93
Using the Private Sector to Help Improve Municipal Utility Performance	p. 117
Improving Capital Planning to Reduce Costs	p. 133
Strategic Action Plan	p. 151
Overview of World Bank's Urban Water Program in China	p. 155
Summary of Water and Wastewater Standards	p. 157
Technical Notes	p. 163
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.