Higher qualitative, technical and administrative demands on the side of the customer, but also public control, as well as the development of the market, which offers solutions for many of these developments, are important arguments for new considerations.
Important, however, is also to consider the changes in framework conditions, or political requirements, which actually do not concern water supply and existential provision. For example, it is practically impossible for communes to make new investments due to the pressure of the Maastricht Criteria and the political objective target to achieve a budgetary zero-deficit.
It is much more tempting, at least at short notice, to make money for the community cash-box by selling off the infrastructure.
A further argument is the displacement fight by the major water suppliers, which has fully set in during the past few years and which has apparently led to favourable offers.
In these circumstances it appears particularly important for the communes and public water suppliers to organise themselves in view of their responsibility for existential provision and to try to develop new infrastructure models in water supply.
In doing this they should use the dynamics of the free market as much as possible. In addition, those synergies created by regional and professional cooperation should be taken advantage of, which are for the benefit of the consumer and the protection of our water resources. (Source: aqua press Int. 03/01)
Dipl.-Ing. Helmut Jung
Information & Contact:
University of Agricultural Sciences, Vienna
Institute for Water Provision,
Water Ecology and Waste Management
Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna
Tel. +43 / 1 / 36 006 - 5805
Fax +43 / 1 /36 89 949
