The regulation of the water and sanitation sector as a key issue for the improvement of efficiency in the Mexican water sector World Water Forum V Ricardo SANDOVAL ANEAS - SIMAPAG
Background Mexico “localidades” 3190 urban (>2500 h) = 76.5% pop. Legal framework Conagua: resource regulation Health Ministry: sanitary regulation Municipalities/ Local Congress: economic regulation??
Legal and regulatory framework
Institutional evolution
Present status Technical, financial and organizational weaknesses Institutional inconsistency Means and ends Responsibility and engagements Scope of the operator's “contract” with citizens and users Incentives, checks and balances Exceptions on chance and courage...
Proposals (1) Clear responsibility boundaries Clear “contracts”: matching means, ends, incentives and controls A real regulatory framework: Measuring, indicators, benchmarks Regulatory entity or mechanism
Proposals (2) An enabling institutional and financial environment A coherent water and sanitation financial system A national organization focused on water and sanitation's needs A consistent supporting structure (capacity building) An effective resource regulation (water rights administration and pollution control)
Initiatives Project of a National Water and Sanitation legal framework Specialized chapters within ANEAS Training and certification Working group for state regulation Regulatory bodies and benchmarking ANEAS' commitment within ADERASA
Initial results Successful cases of state capacity building Promising cases of state regulation Chihuahua, Tamaulipas Guanajuato Mexico Stronger and more stable organizations = growing opportunities...