Do Governance Arrangements Affect the Voluntary Adoption of Water Safety Plans? An Empirical Study of Water Utilities in Portugal

Abstract

What factors influence the voluntary adoption of Water Safety Plans (WSPs) by water utilities? EU Directive 2015/1787, October 6th, on water quality for human consumption, mandates the implementation of a risk assessment process for all water utilities. The strategic approach present in WSPs may be decisive for this purpose, allowing utilities to pursue effective risk assessments with positive repercussions for public health and environmental protection, as well as for the governance of the water sector. This article investigates the factors influencing the voluntary adoption of WSPs by water utilities in Portugal prior to the change in the national regulatory framework. More specifically, it seeks to explore whether the governance arrangement of water utilitiesin-house bureaucracies, municipal corporations, concessions to private firms or public-public partnershipsaffects the likelihood of adoption of a WSP. The results indicate that governance arrangements can make a difference when it comes to the adoption of this methodology, suggesting that water utilities run by in-house bureaucracies are less likely to adopt WSPs. The dimension is also a relevant factor as utilities serving above 50,000 residents or 10,000 m 3 /day are more prone to adopt WSPs. Moreover, water utilities with quality management systems in place are more predisposed to adopt WSPs. Broadly, the article urges all stakeholders, mainly water utilities and national regulators, to implement measures that lead to the best possible results considering that the implementation of WSPs is a major upgrade in water quality assurance.

Does the Ownership of Water Utilities Influence Water-Saving Advice Provided to Service Users? An Analysis of the Spanish Water Sector

“…The analysis shows that populations of under 50,000 have a negative effect on tips_presence, as predicted in the hypothesis ((b=-1.348, p < 0.01). Small utilities are less predisposed to this and other voluntary commitments, presumably due to limited resources (Roeger and Tavares 2020), even though service managers in small populations perceive website campaigns as a cost-effective strategy (Romano et al 2013).…”

Method for Determining the Probability of a Lack of Water Supply to Consumers

“…Although the implementation of even a very good WSP does not fully protect against the occurrence of a crisis (there can always be an event that no one could have foreseen), WSPs are now considered to be the best way to provide consumers with access to safe water. A WSP approach based on hazard prevention significantly reduces the probability of an undesirable event and allows the preparation of a water supply company for an appropriate response [8,9]. This is reflected in the so-called Drinking Water Directive [10], one of whose main objectives is to introduce a risk-based approach to water monitoring and update certain provisions of Directive 98/83/EC [11].…”