Access to safe, affordable and sustainable water and sanitation is a human right.
Since 2000, researchers at the University of Greenwich’s Public Services International Research Unit have catalogued qualitative case studies in the global North and South.
This has brought about a reassessment of the merits of water privatisation and influenced the international reduction of remunicipalisation (or reverse privatisation).
This research has influenced decisions made by public authorities in five countries on matters related to the public and private ownership and management of urban water services. This has improved sanitation and water services to about 17 million people.
This has helped bring about more efficient, equitable and sustainable water supply in Paris; more efficient water services in Berlin; safer water quality in Pittsburgh, USA; efficiency savings and investment in Valladolid, Spain; and, a court ruling on the validity of two private water concessions in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“Improving management of urban water services around the world for safer and more equitable access, greater efficiency, affordability and sustainability” was carried out by Professor David J Hall and Dr Emanuele Lobina.
