This paper aims at shedding light on the significance of water epidemics and their potential posi... more This paper aims at shedding light on the significance of water epidemics and their potential positive impacts on improving preparedness in water and sanitation services. We explore the water epidemic of Nokia in 2007 and preparedness-related reactions since then. The corona case confirms the fundamental role of clean water for well-being in communities, the need for sound management of water services to proactively promote public health, as well as the need for expanding conventional water and environmental engineering education and research to offer more holistic views.
Resilience has become a vital theme in the discussion concerning urban water services. Resilience... more Resilience has become a vital theme in the discussion concerning urban water services. Resilience in this context can be defined as both keeping up a good level of services, as well as rapid and fluent recovery from failures caused by natural disasters, unsound infrastructure or incorrect management. Although adequate water services resilience can be considered as sustainable, resilience is a wider concept than sustainability. In order to call water services resilient, all sections from policy and management to technical operation should be clear and coherent, and their operation in challenging situations also must be guaranteed. This study seeks a resilient approach to water services through a literature review, and a questionnaire to stakeholders; mainly water supply and sanitation experts. The results show that sufficient technology and good water quality are not sufficient for achieving resilient water services, but also education and institutional management are essential issue...
The aim of this paper is to improve the water industry asset life cycle management framework towa... more The aim of this paper is to improve the water industry asset life cycle management framework towards more resilient water services in Finland. This paper is based on a literature study and a web-based semi-structured thematic interview, in which the Finnish water utility managers identified the current status of their utilities' asset management. The water services professionals are extremely worried that, by and large, water and sewage networks are still deteriorating, although the networks are nowadays rehabilitated more systematically. The survey reveals that although most of the surveyed utilities have adopted several processes and sub-processes of asset management, and a few utilities are even using some asset management guides, as a whole a strategic approach to and a comprehensive framework for optimized management of physical assets are not practiced. Therefore the development and introduction of specific asset management guidelines should be considered. In order to support successful usage of the asset management framework, the basic concepts and principles of engineering asset management should be included in educational and professional development programs, in particular at the university level.
Water utilities face continuous challenges with the changes of operational environment, aging per... more Water utilities face continuous challenges with the changes of operational environment, aging personnel, and related tacit knowledge of employees. This article explores knowledge management at one Finnish utility and points out knowledge sharing in daily tasks. It highlights how employees interpret knowledge and tacit knowledge and their sharing. Qualitative inquiry was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 61 employees (65% of personnel) in 2004 and 33 in 2013 (47%). Knowledge management was regarded as a personal, individually controlled property. Value was one obstacle to the unwillingness to share knowledge and tacit knowledge. Positive change between 2004 and 2013 was seen in the interpretation of tacit knowledge: being something that is recorded in your own head only. Tacit knowledge was daily shared with the closest coworkers. As a strategic asset, knowledge should be managed at water and wastewater utilities as further development needs crucial understanding of...
A green economy specifically considers the welfare of the environment and is closely aligned with... more A green economy specifically considers the welfare of the environment and is closely aligned with sustainable development—in both, the use of natural resources should be less than their natural production. In this article, the concept of a green economy is discussed from the viewpoint of water services, a crucial part of a sustainable society, with the objective of enhancing knowledge about sustainable and resilient water services that will meet society’s future demands. Drawing from a literature review and a stakeholder workshop attended by 68 experts, it seeks to answer three research questions: (a) What are appropriate and sustainable urban water supply and sanitation policies for a society that is adopting the basic principles of a green economy? (b) What should be the role of water supply and sanitation in a green and circular economy and what are the current challenges to meeting this objective? and (c) What actions are needed in the Finnish water and sanitation services (WSS)...
The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous agency eng... more The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous agency engaging in multidisciplinary research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development. Its work is guided by the conviction that, for effective development policies to be formulated, an understanding of the social and political context is crucial. The Institute attempts to provide governments, development agencies, grassroots organizations and scholars with a better understanding of how development policies and processes of economic, social and environmental change affect different social groups. Working through an extensive network of national research centres, UNRISD aims to promote original research and strengthen research capacity in developing countries.
Community water supply takes priority over other water use purposes worldwide. Investment in wate... more Community water supply takes priority over other water use purposes worldwide. Investment in water and sanitation systems in developing economies brings a multitude of economic and social benefits. Water infrastructure systems across the world will deteriorate unless substantially more rehabilitation is done. This paper presents a structured and hierarchical framework for sustained water services development consisting of institutions, provision, water infrastructure and production of services that hopefully create better understanding of how to develop our systems and services as part of the built environment for more sustained futures.
This paper argues that strategic asset management and a sound regulatory regime are required urge... more This paper argues that strategic asset management and a sound regulatory regime are required urgently if we want to change the current paradigm of aging and decaying water services infrastructure and expand the coverage of improved water services in the developing economies. In the OECD countries access to safe water supply and sanitation has largely been ensured through substantial investment over many decades. Yet, significant investments will still be required to rehabilitate the existing infrastructures, to bring them into conformity with more stringent environmental and health regulations, and to maintain service quality in the future. In the non-OECD countries the challenges are more daunting. Large parts of their population have no access and many suffer from unsatisfactory services. Nearly one billion people lack access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack access to improved sanitation services. Lack of sound economic regulatory frameworks and enforcement regimes, and poor asset management practices, in particular underpricing of water services is a common problem throughout the world.
This research note discusses the commonly used concept of public-private partnerships (PPPs) prom... more This research note discusses the commonly used concept of public-private partnerships (PPPs) promoted particularly by international financial bodies in water and sanitation services during the past few years. The article argues that the scope of PPPs, which now includes only private operators, should be expanded. The article proposes a related list of policies, principles, and practices with selected priorities for viable and sustainable water and sanitation services. They must be assessed in a long-term perspective rather than in a historical vacuum.
ABSTRACT This article highlights the enormous and growing gap between the projected and required ... more ABSTRACT This article highlights the enormous and growing gap between the projected and required financing of water services infrastructure, which is caused by unviable pricing and/or cost recovery regimes. There are diverse constraints in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and non-OECD countries contributing to the underpricing of water services; however, the message is clear: water is a scarce resource that needs to be priced appropriately to ensure continued viable supply and delivery. Customers will have to bear the costs of all or at least a major part of this adjusted pricing. Therefore, better awareness of broader economic and social benefits of water supply, particularly of sanitation, also will be needed.
ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to question the fundamental assumptions behind privatisation ... more ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to question the fundamental assumptions behind privatisation and public–private partnerships. The article shows that instead of radically increasing private sector involvement, public sector reforms should be seriously considered. Public–private partnerships should be implemented so that the strengths of all the stakeholders may be fully utilised.
This paper presents a framework for viable drinking water services and institutional development ... more This paper presents a framework for viable drinking water services and institutional development of the water sector, especially in developing countries. The key dimensions of viable water services: operative technology, appropriate organizations and adequate cost recovery are dealt with. The role of consumers and the need for institutional reforms are discussed. Some tentative implications of the lessons learnt are discussed regarding the role of external support agencies, based on the authors' experience in developing countries and transition economies. It is suggested here that a polycentric form of governance should be introduced in the water sector, and the ultimate goal for the sector's development should be the reliance on financially self-sufficient and consumer-responsive wafer entrepreneurs.
This paper aims at shedding light on the significance of water epidemics and their potential posi... more This paper aims at shedding light on the significance of water epidemics and their potential positive impacts on improving preparedness in water and sanitation services. We explore the water epidemic of Nokia in 2007 and preparedness-related reactions since then. The corona case confirms the fundamental role of clean water for well-being in communities, the need for sound management of water services to proactively promote public health, as well as the need for expanding conventional water and environmental engineering education and research to offer more holistic views.
Resilience has become a vital theme in the discussion concerning urban water services. Resilience... more Resilience has become a vital theme in the discussion concerning urban water services. Resilience in this context can be defined as both keeping up a good level of services, as well as rapid and fluent recovery from failures caused by natural disasters, unsound infrastructure or incorrect management. Although adequate water services resilience can be considered as sustainable, resilience is a wider concept than sustainability. In order to call water services resilient, all sections from policy and management to technical operation should be clear and coherent, and their operation in challenging situations also must be guaranteed. This study seeks a resilient approach to water services through a literature review, and a questionnaire to stakeholders; mainly water supply and sanitation experts. The results show that sufficient technology and good water quality are not sufficient for achieving resilient water services, but also education and institutional management are essential issue...
The aim of this paper is to improve the water industry asset life cycle management framework towa... more The aim of this paper is to improve the water industry asset life cycle management framework towards more resilient water services in Finland. This paper is based on a literature study and a web-based semi-structured thematic interview, in which the Finnish water utility managers identified the current status of their utilities' asset management. The water services professionals are extremely worried that, by and large, water and sewage networks are still deteriorating, although the networks are nowadays rehabilitated more systematically. The survey reveals that although most of the surveyed utilities have adopted several processes and sub-processes of asset management, and a few utilities are even using some asset management guides, as a whole a strategic approach to and a comprehensive framework for optimized management of physical assets are not practiced. Therefore the development and introduction of specific asset management guidelines should be considered. In order to support successful usage of the asset management framework, the basic concepts and principles of engineering asset management should be included in educational and professional development programs, in particular at the university level.
Water utilities face continuous challenges with the changes of operational environment, aging per... more Water utilities face continuous challenges with the changes of operational environment, aging personnel, and related tacit knowledge of employees. This article explores knowledge management at one Finnish utility and points out knowledge sharing in daily tasks. It highlights how employees interpret knowledge and tacit knowledge and their sharing. Qualitative inquiry was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 61 employees (65% of personnel) in 2004 and 33 in 2013 (47%). Knowledge management was regarded as a personal, individually controlled property. Value was one obstacle to the unwillingness to share knowledge and tacit knowledge. Positive change between 2004 and 2013 was seen in the interpretation of tacit knowledge: being something that is recorded in your own head only. Tacit knowledge was daily shared with the closest coworkers. As a strategic asset, knowledge should be managed at water and wastewater utilities as further development needs crucial understanding of...
A green economy specifically considers the welfare of the environment and is closely aligned with... more A green economy specifically considers the welfare of the environment and is closely aligned with sustainable development—in both, the use of natural resources should be less than their natural production. In this article, the concept of a green economy is discussed from the viewpoint of water services, a crucial part of a sustainable society, with the objective of enhancing knowledge about sustainable and resilient water services that will meet society’s future demands. Drawing from a literature review and a stakeholder workshop attended by 68 experts, it seeks to answer three research questions: (a) What are appropriate and sustainable urban water supply and sanitation policies for a society that is adopting the basic principles of a green economy? (b) What should be the role of water supply and sanitation in a green and circular economy and what are the current challenges to meeting this objective? and (c) What actions are needed in the Finnish water and sanitation services (WSS)...
The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous agency eng... more The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous agency engaging in multidisciplinary research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development. Its work is guided by the conviction that, for effective development policies to be formulated, an understanding of the social and political context is crucial. The Institute attempts to provide governments, development agencies, grassroots organizations and scholars with a better understanding of how development policies and processes of economic, social and environmental change affect different social groups. Working through an extensive network of national research centres, UNRISD aims to promote original research and strengthen research capacity in developing countries.
Community water supply takes priority over other water use purposes worldwide. Investment in wate... more Community water supply takes priority over other water use purposes worldwide. Investment in water and sanitation systems in developing economies brings a multitude of economic and social benefits. Water infrastructure systems across the world will deteriorate unless substantially more rehabilitation is done. This paper presents a structured and hierarchical framework for sustained water services development consisting of institutions, provision, water infrastructure and production of services that hopefully create better understanding of how to develop our systems and services as part of the built environment for more sustained futures.
This paper argues that strategic asset management and a sound regulatory regime are required urge... more This paper argues that strategic asset management and a sound regulatory regime are required urgently if we want to change the current paradigm of aging and decaying water services infrastructure and expand the coverage of improved water services in the developing economies. In the OECD countries access to safe water supply and sanitation has largely been ensured through substantial investment over many decades. Yet, significant investments will still be required to rehabilitate the existing infrastructures, to bring them into conformity with more stringent environmental and health regulations, and to maintain service quality in the future. In the non-OECD countries the challenges are more daunting. Large parts of their population have no access and many suffer from unsatisfactory services. Nearly one billion people lack access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack access to improved sanitation services. Lack of sound economic regulatory frameworks and enforcement regimes, and poor asset management practices, in particular underpricing of water services is a common problem throughout the world.
This research note discusses the commonly used concept of public-private partnerships (PPPs) prom... more This research note discusses the commonly used concept of public-private partnerships (PPPs) promoted particularly by international financial bodies in water and sanitation services during the past few years. The article argues that the scope of PPPs, which now includes only private operators, should be expanded. The article proposes a related list of policies, principles, and practices with selected priorities for viable and sustainable water and sanitation services. They must be assessed in a long-term perspective rather than in a historical vacuum.
ABSTRACT This article highlights the enormous and growing gap between the projected and required ... more ABSTRACT This article highlights the enormous and growing gap between the projected and required financing of water services infrastructure, which is caused by unviable pricing and/or cost recovery regimes. There are diverse constraints in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and non-OECD countries contributing to the underpricing of water services; however, the message is clear: water is a scarce resource that needs to be priced appropriately to ensure continued viable supply and delivery. Customers will have to bear the costs of all or at least a major part of this adjusted pricing. Therefore, better awareness of broader economic and social benefits of water supply, particularly of sanitation, also will be needed.
ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to question the fundamental assumptions behind privatisation ... more ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to question the fundamental assumptions behind privatisation and public–private partnerships. The article shows that instead of radically increasing private sector involvement, public sector reforms should be seriously considered. Public–private partnerships should be implemented so that the strengths of all the stakeholders may be fully utilised.
This paper presents a framework for viable drinking water services and institutional development ... more This paper presents a framework for viable drinking water services and institutional development of the water sector, especially in developing countries. The key dimensions of viable water services: operative technology, appropriate organizations and adequate cost recovery are dealt with. The role of consumers and the need for institutional reforms are discussed. Some tentative implications of the lessons learnt are discussed regarding the role of external support agencies, based on the authors' experience in developing countries and transition economies. It is suggested here that a polycentric form of governance should be introduced in the water sector, and the ultimate goal for the sector's development should be the reliance on financially self-sufficient and consumer-responsive wafer entrepreneurs.
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Papers by Jarmo Hukka