Models of Aggregation for Water Supply and Sanitation Provision Capacity building module
Dec 22, 2015
Outline of the presentation
What is aggregation? Aggregation models The process of aggregation Summary Case studies
What is aggregation?
Grouping of several municipalities into a single administrative structure for the provision of a service
town A town B
town Ctown D
Aggregated service provider
aggregation
Aggregation: one of many management models
Aggregation of small towns
Professional support to medium operators
Scaling up demand response approach
Strengthening community management models
public private partnership
Small scale independent providers
Engaging the public sector
Drivers for aggregation
Increased efficiency
Access to professional services
Access to water resources
Access to PSPAccess to
finance
Cost sharing
Outline of the presentation
What is aggregation? Aggregation models The process of aggregation Summary Case studies
Scale: the optimum size of utility
SCALE
Two Towns Several Towns Regional Provider National TerritoryHungary, The Philippines,
FranceBrazil Italy, England and Wales,
The Netherlands
Scope of Aggregation
SCOPE
A single servicee.g. bulk supply
All municipal services
All water and sanitation services
A single function e.g. procurement
All functionsSeveral functions
What services?
What functions?
Nimes (France), The Netherlandsonly water
Dunavarsany (Hungary), water first, waste water later
Italy,England and Wales
Governance arrangements
Loose association
Permanent structure owned by municipalities
Supralevel of local governments
temporary
permanent
Governance arrangements –voting rights in Board
Method ++ and -- Power tilted to…
Specific powers for the dominating entity
++ Confidence for larger entity-- Small entities have limited influence
larger entities
smaller entities
% of population in each entity
++ Democratic-- Small entities have limited influence
# of connections or value of the assets
++ A sound economic basis -- Varies from year to year
One entity = one seat ++ simple and transparent -- can be unacceptable to larger entities
….Or a mixture of the various methods
Outline of the presentation
What is aggregation? Aggregation models The process of aggregation Summary Case studies
Is aggregation a suitable option? Adding up the pros and cons
++ --Facilitates access to water resourcesEconomies of scale in works, procurement & support servicesAccess to finance (private & donors)Attract private operatorCost sharing between townsIWRM
– lower control over water resources– lower tailoring services to the needs of the end users – Loss of competition –Lower accountability to customers & citizens–Resistance to cost sharing– Potentially high transaction costs
Process of aggregation
PROCESS
Voluntary Voluntary with incentives Mandated
The Philippines, France, Brazil
Hungary Italy, The Netherlands, England and Wales
Stages in the Aggregation Process
Preparatory Phase
Analytical Phase
Implementation Phase
•Initiate the aggregation process•Identify key drivers for aggregation•Identify aggregation candidates and stakeholders•Choose an appropriate consultation process•Establish group to lead the process•Choose an appropriate aggregation process
•Assess drivers, constraints, and potential issues•Assess benefits and costs for each entity•Assess benefits and costs for alternative groupings
•Choose the most appropriate aggregation model•Define an aggregation plan•Define procedure to resolve disputes•Monitor Progress against that plan
Outline of the presentation
What is aggregation? Aggregation models The process of aggregation Summary Case studies
Aggregation: define scale, scope and process
SCALE
Two Towns National Territory
SCOPE
A single service or function
All services and functions
PROCESS
Voluntary Mandated
Outline of the presentation
What is aggregation? Aggregation models The process of aggregation Summary Case studies
Syndicates in France
Drivers Economies of Scale, regional cooperation and PSP in highly decentralized environment (36,000 (often rural) municipalities)
Constraints Political legitimacy (direct taxation but indirect citizen representation)
Scale Normally 2- 5 municipalities of similar size (< 5,000 pop)
Scope Variable (pick and choose operating functions / often on WS and not sewerage)
Process Usually voluntary –central govt representative at local level (prefect) has right to mandate membership
Model Assets: asset ownership remains with municipalities, syndicate has usage rights Exit: allowed with permission of assembly if joining elsewhereVoting: mixed (max 50% seats for larger municipalities; min one seat per municipality)Harmonization: working towards harmonized tariffs and services
Local Government Units, Philippines
Drivers Economies of scale and to lesser degree access to PSP, Access to government loans, access to water
Constraints Conflicting legal interpretations and political disunity
Scale Varies widely (from Manilla with 10m pop to rural LGUs with 30,000 pop in 3 towns)
Scope Varies (several or all functions; sometimes also other services than WSS)
Process mainly voluntary – pace and route varies widely
Model Assets: in most cases transferred to aggregated entityExit: municipalities can exit / cannot be dispelledVoting: by # of connections or assets (problematic at times)Harmonization: uniform tariffs
Dunavarsany, Hungary
Drivers Political ( compliance with EU standards)
Constraints Legislative unclarity
Scale 8 municipalities, total 20,000 pop; one municipality much larger than other seven
Scope Water and wastewater; solid waste being considered
Process Voluntary with financial incentives from national governmentOriginally 4 member municipalities, 4 more joined later
Model Assets: no, not allowed by law Exit: allowed - but on reimbursing loss of additional grant Voting: based on contribution to budgetHarmonization: working towards uniform tariff
Dos Lagos, Brazil
Drivers Economies of scale and access to government finance and to lesser degree access to PSP
Constraints Political disputes between local and state level
Scale 5 municipalities; total 310,000 pop
Scope Water supply and sanitation in some municipalities
Process Strong financial incentives from state government
Model Assets: remain with state (bulk water infra) and municipalities (distribution network)Exit: limited Voting: loose association; no board in placeHarmonization: uniform tariffs
Consortium & Convenzione, Italy
Drivers Efficiency, political ( compliance with EU standards)
Constraints Local political resistance, vested private sector interests
Scale No standard size, 1- 377 municipalities, avg total population is 640,000
Scope All functions integrated
Process Mandatory
Model Two models: Consortium (new public entity) and Convenzione (agreement between existing entities)Assets: municipalities keep existing assets; aggregated entity owns new assets Voting: vary but mainly based on population Harmonization: uniform tariffs (some exceptions)
Public water PLCs, The Netherlands
Drivers Economies of scale
Constraints Resistance to aggregation among existing utilities
Scale 1-40 municipalities; 200,000 – 1.600,000 connections
Scope Water supply
Process Initially voluntary, later mandatory threshold size of 100,000 pop
Model Assets: either owned by public water PLC of by member municipalities Exit: no Voting: based on population harmonization: uniform tariffs
Regional Water Authorities, England and Wales
Drivers Water resources, access to financing (for WW treatment)
Constraints Institutional design flaw (regulator and regulatee); lack of accountability
Scale More than 100,000 population
Scope water supply, wastewater and water resource management
Process Mandatory
Model Assets: owned by RWA Exit: no Voting: fixed key, including local and central government appointees (not all municipalities represented)Harmonization: uniform tariffs
Note: RWAs were divested to the private sector in 1989