What is the role to be played by public and private sectors in developing countries in terms of water supply?

private co-investment is welcome

Hi!
I agree with Matt Stephens: if there's not enough public investment, letting privates in this critical market is crucial. We should not be affraid of private investments: often it makes the water systems more efficient in fund applying, it often improves water allocation, better meets the water demand (see page 70 Baseline Study) and leaves more satisfied costumers.

So, I think water supply should be an example of positive interaction between public and private sectors, applying the full-cost recovery all times it is reasonable to apply it (we shouldn't force people starving to death to pay high fees), ensuring market regulation, ensuring the State has a hand in the business, having co-financing by privates,...

Alternatives

Public finance currently isn't great enough to cater for the water services required by the European population. To expand Government revenue, taxes could be increased, spending on other areas could be cut and money could be borrowed from banks. Hopefully as the availablility of water across Europe increases, the costs associated with lack of drinking water and/or dirty water will lower. This could mean government finance for health services drops because fewer people will be suffering from water related illnesses. The same applies in countries like Africa, if water is provided it would mean there would be a larger workforce because the women wouldn't have to travel miles to collect water. Another benefit is that fewer people would suffer from water related illnesses, therefore less medical resources would need to be provided by developed countries. There will be fewer days taken off work adding to the productivity of the country, increasing GDP and Government Revenue.
On the other hand if it is not possible to raise the funds neccesary through public finance, then private investment is the only other mean. This can be done either as a joint venture between Governments and businesses in which the intial investment is made by the private companies, then the assets are slowly bought back by the Governemnt. This form is probably most beneficial for consumers in price but waste will be much greater. The private sector can control the whole market, which would mean a higher price would be paid but due to this people wouldn't be as likely to waste as much. This is the system in England.

Water

I think the world should come as a whole and see to that everyone is getting the basic human requirement, water. Water is the most essential thing for life.This should not be limited to one's affordability but it should be provided by country governments.

Private investments which, i

Private investments which, i think, are made basically by non-governmental organisations and agencies, like the World Bank, public finance remains the predominant means of funding the expansion of water. As individuals, with our vote, our voice we could persuade politicians, governments to invest too.

The only way

I think it is the only way and so it should be. We should see that this people needs this water to live and so we have to help them!

difficult

In anyway everybody should do something for the developed countries and so it should be better to invest in these projects or something like that. And you can not look away.