Water pricing reforms: Issues and challenges of implementation

Water pricing has to consider that water resources are scarce and that incentives and economic principles have to be implemented with the objective of improving allocation and to enhance quality. Pricing mechanisms are not objectives by themselves, but a means to at? end, the end being a more efficient water resources management, including the provision of water services. Since the implementation of water pricing reforms has proved to be difficult, it should be considered within a broad perspective of local and regional socio-economic, institutional, political, legal, ecological and cultural characteristics.