Towards equity in water pricing in small water systems: An Alberta case study | Zendy

Abhijit Gopal | Zendy; H. I. Dore Mohammed | Zendy; Aaron Casp | Zendy

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Towards equity in water pricing in small water systems: An Alberta case study

Author(s) -

Abhijit Gopal,

H. I. Dore Mohammed,

Aaron Casp

Publication year - 2018

Publication title -

international journal of water resources and environmental engineering

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

ISSN - 2141-6613

DOI - 10.5897/ijwree2018.0786

Subject(s) - residence , equity (law) , water pricing , water industry , capital cost , business , economics , environmental economics , public economics , water supply , water resources , water conservation , environmental science , environmental engineering , political science , demographic economics , ecology , macroeconomics , law , biology

Small water systems have water technology that has a higher cost structure than those of large cities. Consequently they cannot enjoy “comparable” consumption patterns. It is shown that full cost pricing is not compatible with achieving equity for small system residents and marginal cost pricing would not cover the capital costs. Therefore, provinces could seek legal recourse for higher federal transfers, based on section 36(2) of the Canadian Constitution Act, which mandates “comparable” public services irrespective of residence. It is argued that such a case is justiciable. This legal remedy would interest the global water policy community. Key words: Alberta, water pricing, small water systems, affordability, income.

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