The World Bank has released a new report addressing the growing issue of water scarcity, which is being made worse by factors such as increasing population, changing rainfall patterns, and heightened water stress. Climate change is also disrupting the global water cycle and affecting food production, energy supply, urban development, and environmental systems.
In response to these challenges, there has been a worldwide increase in investment in desalination and water reclamation infrastructure. The adoption of unconventional water resources may require countries to update their institutional structures and management approaches. This could include greater involvement from the private sector.
The report, titled "Governance and Economics of Desalination and Reuse," is organized into five volumes aimed at helping sector authorities integrate unconventional water sources in a sustainable manner. The volumes cover key areas: policies and regulations; governance models at the sector level; economic assessment using modern portfolio theory; selection of project delivery models and financial structures; and service delivery models for poor or remote communities.
The individual volumes are:
1. Adjusting Policy and Regulatory Frameworks to Go Mainstream
2. Sector-Level Governance Models
3. Evaluating Economic Viability Using Modern Portfolio Theory
4. Selecting the Appropriate Project Delivery Model and Financial Structure
5. Service Delivery Models for Unconventional Water Resources in Poor and Remote Communities