Autonomy matters: Insights from U.S. water utility managers on governance structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. e1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. Biddle ◽  
Karen J. Baehler
Keyword(s):  
Governance Structure ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Utility Managers

Marketing urban water services: information needs for water utility managers in developing countries

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
J. Mugabi ◽  
C. Njiru
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Customer Information ◽  
Willingness To Use ◽  
Utility Managers

A decade ago the ‘Dublin Principles’ shifted global thinking towards treating water as an economic good. The concern was that overly supply-driven approaches had been financially unsustainable, and therefore failed to reduce the service gap. Accompanying this conceptual shift has been a wider move towards focusing on the customer's needs and preferences and their willingness to pay, and applying marketing techniques to meet those needs in a financially sustainable manner. Although regarded as a positive move, its success is heavily dependent on how well water utilities understand their customers. This paper examines existing literature on the determinants of customer willingness to use and pay for improved water services in developing countries. The contribution of past research to our understanding of the behaviour of customers, with regard to service level choice and payment for services, is critically analysed. Basing on this analysis, we develop and discuss a generic model of a water consumer's decision-making process. The model serves two purposes. First, it consolidates past research into a coherent framework to facilitate implementation of the marketing approach. Secondly, we use the model to identify critical customer information that water utility managers need to know in order to be customer-focused.

A deterministic model to quantify pathogen loads in drinking water catchments: pathogen budget for the Wingecarribee

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 191-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Ferguson ◽  
B. Croke ◽  
N.J. Ashbolt ◽  
D.A. Deere
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Relative Significance ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Utility Managers ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Water Catchments

This paper describes the development and testing of a mathematical model as a tool to quantify pathogen loads in Sydney's drinking water catchments. It has been used to identify, quantify and prioritise sources of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and E. coli in the Wingecarribee catchment. The pathogen model promotes understanding of the relative significance of different sources of pathogen risks as well as their fate and transport as they move through the subcatchments. This pathogen model not only enables water utility managers to identify those catchment segments that may contribute the highest load of pathogens, but also where management options will be most effective.

scholarly journals Emerging pathogens and deliberate attacks on European water supplies: a scenario planning workshop

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-476
Author(s):  
Julii Brainard ◽  
Charlotte C. Hammer ◽  
Maha Bouzid ◽  
Paul R. Hunter ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Utility Managers

Abstract Microbiological contamination of drinking water supplies is an ever-present concern for water utility managers. Most such threats are routine, well-recognised and described. Therefore, they can usually be prevented using standard protection measures. Incidents involving emerging pathogens and malicious attacks are inherently less predictable. In a multi-stage process over one day, participants with backgrounds in microbiology, medicine, infrastructure, data analysis, environmental or public health and facility management developed qualitative scenarios on potential threats posed by either an emergent pathogen in or a microbiological attack on drinking water supplies in a European country. Participants were guided via structured activities to identify key factors that would impact the magnitude and severity of such an emergency. Plausible variant states for each key factor were determined, and participants constructed sequences of events to create scenario outlines. Five scenarios in outline form are reported which incorporate genuine possible future events as well as pathogens of international concern. Common features that would exacerbate all scenarios were under-investment in public services, inadequate water quality testing, and monitoring and lack of resources to keep water supplies safe. Participant evaluation of their scenario planning experience was broadly very positive and the scenario planning process was received as credible and relevant.

scholarly journals Determinants of customer decisions to pay utility water bills promptly

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josses Mugabi ◽  
Sam Kayaga ◽  
Ian Smout ◽  
Cyrus Njiru
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Social Pressure ◽  
Cost Recovery ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
To Come ◽  
Customer Attitude ◽  
Utility Managers

Cost recovery is a prerequisite for sustainable water service provision. For water utilities, one of the key determinants of overall cost recovery efficiency is the ability to recover payment, within a reasonable timeframe, for all the water bills sent to customers. This study used empirical data, obtained through a cross-sectional survey in eight small urban centres in Uganda, to establish the determinants of customer decisions to pay utility water bills promptly. Regression analysis on the data showed that customer attitude towards prompt payment, perceived ease or difficulty of paying on time (perceived control), as well as social pressure, strongly influence intentions to pay, which in turn directly affects actual prompt bill payment behaviour. The results also show that attitudes towards prompt payment are informed by perceptions of benefits and sacrifices associated with the behaviour, while social pressure is perceived to come from family members, neighbours and the utility itself. Perceived control was found to reflect both internal and external impediments to prompt bill payment, many of which relate to service issues that are within the control of water utility managers.

A conversation with water utility managers

2010 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Ginley ◽  
Sandra Ralston
Keyword(s):  
Water Utility ◽  
Utility Managers

scholarly journals Paying Returns to Shareholders of Water Utilities: Evidence from Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Romano ◽  
Andrea Guerrini
Keyword(s):  
Water Utilities ◽  
Water Industry ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Managerial Decisions ◽  
Strategic Model ◽  
Quality Water ◽  
Utility Managers ◽  
Privately Owned ◽  
New Infrastructure

The debate about the role of corporations with regard to water also involves the influence that paying returns to shareholders could have on the investment policy of utilities, influencing the development of new infrastructure or the renewal of existing ones. This study investigated the dividend policy of water utilities by analyzing the data of 128 Italian firms during 2009–2014. Data show that the majority of utilities do not distribute any return to shareholders. On average, large utilities pay more frequent returns than medium-sized and small ones. Moreover, water utilities that are part of a group, multi-utilities, and those located in the center of Italy pay more frequent returns than do others. Southern firms usually do not pay returns. As expected, privately owned water utilities pay dividends more frequently and have higher returns to equity. In all the observed years, at least one-third of such utilities paid returns. Empirical results provide water regulators, water utility managers, and stakeholders with information that can impact future regulatory and managerial decisions related to management and strategic model choices in the water industry and how these decisions affect investments to improve water quality, water quantity, and/or water services.

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