Water Management and Investment in the New Independent States [electronic resource] /
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Organisation for Economic Co operation and DevelopmentContent Provider
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentContent Provider
Paris : OECD Publishing,
2001.
In the former Soviet Union, extensive networks were constructed to supply urban populations with clean, safe water. However, the networks were not well designed and this resulted in low quality water services and high operation and maintenance costs. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the condition of water infrastructure deteriorated more dramatically following sharp decreases in public budgets and the continued tradition of providing water services virtually free of charge. Without urgent action, the quality of services will continue to worsen and, in some of the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union, may even collapse, with serious consequences for human health and economic activity. This volume analyses the causes underlying this dire situation and presents recommendations for addressing it which were adopted at a meeting of Economic/Finance and Environment Ministers held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in October 2000. The meeting was organized within the framework of the EAP Task Force, with its Secretariat at OECD, and involved key stakeholders from the governmental and non-governmental sectors. The EAP Task Force will implement a focused programme of work guided by the main recommendations agreed by participants.
Description based upon print version of record.
List of abbreviations and country groups -- Introduction -- Joint conclusions of Almaty Ministerial Consultation -- Background paper on valuing environmental benefits and damages in the NIS -- Background paper on financing strategies for the urban water sector in the NIS -- Background paper on reform of urban water supply and sanitation services -- Private sector participation in urban water supply and wastewater financing and management -- Water supply and sanitation -- Position paper of the non-governmental organisations on the main discussion issues of the Almaty Ministerial Consultations.
Includes bibliographical references.
In the former Soviet Union, extensive networks were constructed to supply urban populations with clean, safe water. However, the networks were not well designed and this resulted in low quality water services and high operation and maintenance costs. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the condition of water infrastructure deteriorated more dramatically following sharp decreases in public budgets and the continued tradition of providing water services virtually free of charge. Without urgent action, the quality of services will continue to worsen and, in some of the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union, may even collapse, with serious consequences for human health and economic activity. This volume analyses the causes underlying this dire situation and presents recommendations for addressing it which were adopted at a meeting of Economic/Finance and Environment Ministers held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in October 2000. The meeting was organized within the framework of the EAP Task Force, with its Secretariat at OECD, and involved key stakeholders from the governmental and non-governmental sectors. The EAP Task Force will implement a focused programme of work guided by the main recommendations agreed by participants.
Water quality management
Municipal water supply
Water-supply