Cost recovery for water services under the Water Framework Directive
This paper examines the concept of cost recovery of water services under the EU Water
Framework Directive (WFD), including the different types of costs and cost-recovery
mechanisms. It presents the state of play in the implementation of cost recovery in
EU Member States, for financial, environmental and resource costs. It also analyses
the political, societal and technical issues affecting cost recovery in EU Member
States. Furthermore, it examines emerging options to recover rising costs, including
ways to minimise costs and innovative arrangements to supplement existing funding
streams. Finally, it questions how fit cost recovery is as a concept for emerging
and future water-related challenges in the EU. This is the fourth in a sub-set of
four working papers within the Environment Working Paper series destined to support
the further implementation of the economic pillar of the Water Framework Directive.
The four papers are best read in combination and provide lessons which are relevant
beyond the European Union.
Published on May 24, 2024
In series:OECD Environment Working Papersview more titles