"Governance restricts": A contextual assessment of the wastewater treatment policy in the Guadalupe River Basin, Mexico. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Casiano Flores, Cesar; Özerol, Gül; Bressers, Hans
• Is Part Of: Utilities policy. Volume 47(2018)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Water governance context -- Wastewater governance -- Governance assessment -- Mexico -- Latin America; Public utilities -- United States -- Periodicals; Public utilities -- Government policy -- United States -- Periodicals; 363.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2017.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-1787

Abstract

Abstract: Lack of wastewater treatment is among the main water problems worldwide. The implementation of wastewater treatment policies faces varying challenges given the many different contexts. Therefore, context-sensitive approaches are required from a governance perspective. This paper aims to improve the understanding of the role of contextual factors in water and wastewater governance drawing on empirical evidence from Latin America, with a focus on the Guadalupe River Basin in Mexico. The findings indicate that the governance context restricts the implementation of wastewater treatment policy. Thus, future reforms should consider the top-down nature of the policy implementation process. Highlights: The River Basin Commission has no influence on the wastewater treatment policy implementation. Water utilities at the municipal level lack the capacity to implement the wastewater treatment policy. Top-down and bottom-up implementation processes do not support each other. The governance context restricts the top-down and bottom-up implementation processes.