Ten Years of Water Sector Reform in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
This report evaluates how well EECCA countries have done in ensuring people’s access to adequate water supply and sanitation services since their Economic, Finance, and Environment Ministers adopted the Almaty Guiding Principles to support such efforts in 2000. Besides looking at trends in the technical and financial performance of the water sector, the report analyses the results of institutional reforms at different levels of governance, as well as financing arrangements. Analysis focuses mainly on urban areas, but some of the challenges in rural areas are also examined. The report draws policy recommendations to help countries stem the decline in the sector’s performance that has occurred over the last decade, despite opportunities provided by rapid economic growth in many EECCA countries in this period.
Recent trends and current status
This chapter provides comparable data on recent trends and current performance of water supply and sanitation systems in EECCA. It draws on a set of indicators of both the technical and financial performance of water utilities. It discusses the specific challenges in rural areas, given that coverage rates tend to be much lower, with self-provision, rather than piped networks, being an important form of supply. It elaborates on the consequences of inadequate service quality on health and the environment.