A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Alternative Financing and Delivery of Water and Wastewater Services

Elizabeth Brubaker
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Elizabeth Brubaker: Environment Probe

C.D. Howe Institute Commentary, 2011, issue 330

Abstract: Too many drinking water and wastewater systems across Canada threaten public health and the environment. In this report, the author writes that many of the municipally owned and operated systems that treat and distribute drinking water perform poorly and lack the financial resources and expertise to meet the challenges posed by aging infrastructure. Indeed, more than 1,000 systems across Canada violate provincial requirements or are subject to boil-water advisories. Brubaker recommends reforms to the financing and operating of utilities to ensure their long-term sustainability. These include introducing competition for water and wastewater services and taking steps to attract more private expertise and capital investment.

Keywords: The Water Series; water and sewage services; Canadian municipalities; capital investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L95 Q25 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cdh:commen:330

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