| Welcome
to the Website of AquaFed® - The International Federation of Private Water Operators. |
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AquaFed® is an association set up to connect international organisations with private sector providers of water and sanitation services. It does this on the international scene, representing the operators through direct membership or through their national associations. AquaFed membership is open to all privately controlled companies irrespective of their size or location.
To read more about AquaFed, please consult our Institutional Brochure. |
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| AquaFed® has been recognized as the the voice of the private water industry vis-à-vis international organisations. |
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| AquaFed® brings together over 300 water service providers operating
in 40 countries worldwide. |
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The Federation
was created in 2005.
A small team of professionals is based in Brussels and
Paris. |
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| NEWS |
| – January 17, 2012 |
Half the globe’s population not adequately served: the real scale of the world’s drinking water deficit exposed |
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For several years AquaFed has been raising questions such as: |
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How many people need a better access to drinking water than they have today? |
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How many people have their human right to safe drinking water unsatisfied? |
The Federation believes that billions of people are concerned, not hundreds of millions as many people are led to believe.
More ...
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| – November 23, 2011 |
Kuala Lumpur |
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In the second IWA Development Congress AquaFed highlights practical challenges to be mitigated by water professionals to implement the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation better. In particular G.Payen comments the multi-dimensional framework of this right (see diagram) and the challenges inherent in its progressive implementation in the field. (Pdf) |
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| – September, 2011 |
Paris Offices Move |
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The AquaFed offices in Paris have moved to a new adress: 16, Avenue Hoche – F75008 Paris, France.
Please note our new telephone number +33153890810 and fax number +33145630472. |
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| – May 19, 2011 |
Press Release: “The campaign to exclude AquaFed from contributing to the international work on water is contrary to public interest and the environment.” |
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AquaFed reacts to an orchestrated campaign, led by the Council of Canadians that misrepresents and discredits our Federation and the activities of our Members. The campaign aims at excluding the Federation from the works of the international community on water challenges. |
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AquaFed works constructively with all stakeholders, in particular governments and operators of all types, in trying to advance concrete solutions to the world’s increasing water and sanitation challenges. AquaFed recalls the statement by Mr. BAN KI-MOON, Secretary-General of the United Nations, of September 22, 2010: “There is no longer any doubt that business plays an integral role in delivering economic and social progress. // Already, many businesses have ... provided access to safe water and sanitation and advanced environmental sustainability”. |
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The increasing water challenges will only be solved through constructive engagement of all parties in multi-stakeholder efforts and partnerships at local, national and international levels. The anti-AquaFed campaign seems to be motivated more by a lobby whose principal objective is to hinder certain businesses than by a willingness to find solutions to water problems in the interests of people and the environment. |
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AquaFed’s Press Release, May 19, 2011 (EN, FR, ES) |
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| – April 16 & 17Th. 2011 |
Private Operators at the Global Water Intelligence Summit in Berlin
AquaFed members take to the platform at the GWI Summit in Berlin. SEAAL wins the "Performance Challenge"
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Private operators were active at the GWI Global Water Summit 2011, which took place in Berlin on 18th and 19th of April. (Global Water Intelligence Website) |
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First up was Diane d'Arras, Deputy Managing Director of Suez Environnement, who took part in a panel debate on the "Politics of Performance". She stressed the important links between decisions of the political leaders of a community and the success of their service operators, be they public or private. Success invariably involves consistent close corporation between the political decision-makers and their operators. |
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In the next session, three member companies, APA NOVA Bucharesti (Romania) represented by Epsica Chiru - Deputy MD, SAUR NEPTUN GDANSK (Poland) represented by Zbigniew Maksymiuk, President and MD, and SEAAL (Algeria) represented by Jean-Marc Jahn CEO, presented their performance achievements in a competition were 8 preselected top performing public and private operators competed for the prize "Water Performer of the Year". |
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Between 2000 and 2008, APA NOVA has produced cost savings totalling US$349 million. The concessionaire has financed US$259 million in investment, without public subsidy, while keeping tariffs in Bucharest well below the Romanian average. (APA NOVA PDF - World Bank PDF) |
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SAUR NEPTUN GDANSK started water and wastewater operations in 1992. By 1994 it had overcome the failure of wastewater treatment and reopened bathing beaches that had been closed for health reasons since 1978. When operations started only 8% of drinking water met European standards. In 2010 performance is at 87% compliance and will be 100% by 2012. (SAUR NEPTUN GDANSK PDF) |
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In Algiers, in 3½ years, SEAAL has transformed the water services for the capital city of 3.2 million people from a situation where only 8% of the population received water supplies 24 hours a day 7 days a week to one where now 100% of the population receive water 24 hours a day every day, raising customer satisfaction to 89%. It has also achieved measurable transfer of technology to 4,500 Algerian personnel. (SEAAL PDF)
 (click on the image to view the embedded video)
On a vote by the audience, SEAAL won the prize, which was handed to Jean-Marc Jahn by Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, at the Global Water Awards Dinner.
J-M Jahn CEO of SEAAL receives the trophy for "Water Performer of the Year" from Kofi Anan - Photo GWI |
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| Tony Wray, CEO of Severn Trent gave a keynote speech "Water Money and Performance" in the plenary session on day 2. He summarised 20 years of performance improvement since privatisation (doubling of annual investment, improved customer standards, environmental standards, quality of service, efficiency). He then took a prospective view of the next 20 years, asking are the current trends sustainable and suggesting six changes to reach a more sustainable future. (PDF) (Severn Trent: "Changing Course") |
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| Aladji Dieng, Technical Director of Senegalaise des Eaux (SDE) took part in the session, widely acclaimed by participants as the best at the summit, on "Africa's Moment in Water". He presented "Africa: already performing and full of promise" He highlighted the challenges of Sub-Saharan Africa and the way these are being overcome, offering development opportunities to operators and investors. GDP growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is growing twice as fast as population growth (4.3 % against 2.9% between 1990 and 2008). He then illustrated the performance of SDE on its contract since 1996, which has concentrated on customer care, pro-poor actions, staff development and the technical improvements needed to achieve these objectives. The number of connections has more than doubled from 240,000 to 520,000, taking the coverage ratio to 99%. Of these new connections, 155,660 are social connections. (PDF) |
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| AquaFed president Gerard Payen chaired the session on "New Initiatives in Private Sector Participation". After Gerard's brief introduction of the subject, where he spoke of the "lamp post syndrome" the sustained growth of PPPs, the right to water and the measureable impact of PPPs in development, presentations were given on India, Lagos, Oman and Botswana. These presentations all show that the opportunities and expectations for private sector participation are strong. (PDF)
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| Numerous private operators attended the sessions and benefitted from these and the very valuable networking and exchange opportunities. |
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| – October 1st, 2010 |
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AquaFed welcomes the United Nations' Human Rights Council Resolution adopted by consensus in its 15th Session in Geneva on September 30, 2010 titled: "Human rights and access to safe drinking water and sanitation". This resolution complements the UN General Assembly's resolution recognising the Right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation (July 2010) and provides real progress towards making this Right a reality for the people who need it. |
The Human Rights Council’s resolution clarifies three key points: |
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Duties -
States (public authorities) have the primary responsibility to ensure realisation of the Right to safe drinking water and sanitation, irrespective of the operators, internal or external, that they use to deliver it. |
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Public authorities have the possibility to choose “non-State” actors, (private companies, entrepreneurs, NGOs, community-based organizations and State-owned companies) to provide safe drinking water and sanitation as they see appropriate. |
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Legal Framework -
The resolution affirms that the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation is derived from the right to an adequate standard of living. According to the UN Independent Expert on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque, “this means that for the UN, the right to water and sanitation is contained in existing human rights treaties and is therefore legally binding”. |
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| Gerard Payen welcomed the resolution saying:" This decision puts an end to controversies on the Right to Water. Now we have a clear legal framework that will enable all stakeholders to focus on the effective delivery of these vital services to meet the urgent needs of billions of people." |
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AquaFed’s press release, October 1st 2010 - “Important U.N. step towards practical realisation of the Right to Water and Sanitation.” (EN, FR, ES) |
UN Independent Expert’s press release (link )
UN-HRC resolution A/HRC/15/L14 (link )
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| – September 7, 2010 |
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| -Stockholm – 20th World Water Week. (http://www.worldwaterweek.org/) |
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At the occasion of the 20th World Water Week, held in Stockholm, AquaFed issued the following press release: “In cities, there are today more people suffering from a poor and unsatisfactory access to safe water and sanitation than in the XXth century. Access to Drinking Water is deteriorating in the urban half of the world.” |
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Download our Press Release: “Access to Drinking Water is deteriorating in the urban half of the world where rapid urbanisation is outpacing public services.” (EN + Annex-EN; FR + Annex-FR; SP + Annex-FR) |
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| – July 28, 2010 |
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| -New York: the United Nations General Assembly recognises the “human right to water and sanitation ” by voting a landmark resolution. |
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AquaFed celebrates the recognition by the UN Member States of the “right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights”.
"For private water operators, this global recognition is an important milestone. Our members and our Federation have been working actively with the United Nations and many other stakeholders for a decade to ensure that the Right to Water and Sanitation is recognized, that it is practical and can be implemented. This UN resolution is welcomed because it is a stepping stone that should increase the commitment of national governments to ensuring that all their population enjoy the multiple benefits of having access to adequate water and sanitation services.
Access to safe clean water and sanitation is truly vital: it is essential for life and necessary for health, education, dignity, gender equality, employment, social and economic development and quality of life.
The UN member states have now to work on the implementation of this human right. They have to empower appropriate public authorities, clarify their obligations and make sure that they mandate capable field operators to make this right effective for people" said Gerard Payen, President of AquaFed. |
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AquaFed Press Release: July 29, 2010 – “Private Water Operators celebrate the recognition of the Human Right to water and sanitation by the United Nations General Assembly. This must be used to turn the Right into a Reality for the billions of people who do not enjoy proper water services” (EN, FR, ES) |
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UN General Assembly Resolution A/64/L.63/Rev.1 (weblink: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/64/L.63/Rev.1&Lang=E) (or PDF) |
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UN General Assembly Press Release and voting record: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/ga10967.doc.htm |
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UN News Centre coverage: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35456&Cr=SANITATION&Cr1 |
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| – January 27, 2010 |
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- AquaFed’s contribution to the work of Catarina de Albuquerque,
the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. |
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Following last year’s focus on “Sanitation”, the Independent expert is conducting her research this year, under the terms of her mandate, on private sector participation in the provision of water and sanitation services http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/water/iexpert/private_sector_participation.htm.
She will publish a report with her findings and recommendations by the summer of 2010. |
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AquaFed has been invited to take part in these broad consultations and 3 representatives participated in the public consultation organised by the Independent Expert at the UN in Geneva on January 27, 2010. AquaFed’s President Gérard PAYEN was asked to deliver a keynote speech at this public hearing. Download his “Introductory Remarks” (PDF) |
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AquaFed’s President Gérard PAYEN, also took part in the 2-day expert consultation workshop held in Geneva, January 25-26, 2010. The Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung will publish a report on their website: http://www.fes.de/ |
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| – October, 1st 2009
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| - AquaFed contribution to the work of Professor John Ruggie, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Business and Human Rights. |
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AquaFed Submission: “Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) and the Right to Water - The case of the provision of public water supply and sanitation services”: (PDF or weblink). |
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AquaFed’s key finding: “The Bilateral Investment Treaty obligations of a State to protect the investment of foreign shareholders of a local water operator, are compatible with and beneficial to the needs of this State to respect, protect and fulfil the Right to Water in its national territory.” |
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The existence of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) enhances the ability of States to attract foreign expertise, technology and investment, thereby helping them to meet their obligations to implement the Right to Water. These BITs do not create any obligation that would prevent the States from organising the implementation of the Right to Water. |
| In addition to this written submission, AquaFed was represented by MM. Jack Moss and Thomas Van Waeyenberge at the recent public consultation on Geneva (October 5-6, 2009: webpage) organised for Professor Ruggie by the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. |
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| – September 2009
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| - New World Bank's findings on water supply by private operators in developing countries. |
For the first time, the contribution of private operators to providing safe drinking water in developing countries is assessed globally. The World Bank report shows that overall local and international private companies deliver much more benefit to the populations and governments of developing countries than is generally recognised. (AquaFed Press Release in EN, FR, ESP).
Visit the World Bank webpage for the document “Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities”, P.Marin, World Bank, PPIAF, Trends & Policy options n°8, February 2009 http://www.ppiaf.org/documents/trends_and_policy/PPPsforUrbanWaterUtilities-PhMarin.pdf |
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| – Spring 2009
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OECD Observer Article by Jack Moss: “Water and the Economic Crisis: Back to Basics” (pdf) |
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BIAC, March 9, 2009 Article by Jack Moss: “Avoiding Collapse – The Impacts of the Economic Crisis on Water” (pdf) |
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| – May 2009
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| - AquaFed participates in the 6th FEMIP Conference on "Sustainable Water Financing and Climate Change in the Mediterranean". |
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| –April 29, 2009 |
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| - Contribution by AquaFed to the “Sanitation Consultation”, organised by the United Nations’ Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Ms. Catarina de Albuquerque. |
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| - “Real Water Divides have been bridged”: Press Release by AquaFed on the Conclusion of the 5th World Water Forum (English, PDF; French, PDF)
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| – March 2009
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| - The Federation participates in the 5th World Water Forum |
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AquaFed participates in the 5th World Water Forum, March 16-22 2009 in Istanbul; Turkey (http://www.worldwaterforum5.org). The theme is "Bridging Divides for Water". AquaFed is involved at various levels: |
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March 18, 2009: AquaFed Press Release: "Bridging the real water divide between haves and have-nots. More ambition, more projects, no limitations that slow progress" (English PDF; French PDF; Turkish PDF) |
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AquaFed is a member of "Business Action for Water" (BAW - http://www.businessactionforwater.org/). Initially developed and rolled-out for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in 2004 and 2005, this renewed version of Business Action for Water aims to both represent business at the Forum and be the platform to facilitate business input. |
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AquaFed is part of the Theme 5 Finance Coordination Group and Topic Coordinator for Topic 5.1. - "Sustainable Local Finance". More information from the Virtual Meeting Space of the World Water Forum. |
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Quotes by Gérard Payen (PDF) |
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March 18, 2009: AquaFed organised Session 5.1.1. - "Financial Sustainability: Importance, progress and emerging issues."
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Presentation by Gérard Payen: "Progress since the Camdessus Panel and the Gurria Task Force" (PDF)
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Session 5.1.1. Final Scoping Document (PDF)
- Preliminary Conclusions (PDF)
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For more information and press inquiries please contact the AquaFed team in Istanbul: Thomas van Waeyenberge: +32 (0)479 23 78 26 (Cell) or +90 (0)53 53 60 14 22 (during the Forum) |
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March 18, 2009: Presentation by Gérard Payen in session 4.2.2.: "Optimising Public and Private Roles in managing water and sanitation service" (PDF) |
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| - AquaFed has prepared the following new briefing papers |
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Key Messages by the Federation for the World Water Forum (PDF)
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What Operators Do and Do Not Do (PDF) |
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| AquaFed Analysis of two landmark reports on the positive contributions of private sector participation |
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The Federation presents an initial analysis of two major World Bank reports that validate private sector contribution for access to water and sanitation goals: (PDF). Both Marin (2009) and Gassner (2008) show that private operators are making a real contribution to serving people, supporting and helping governments. Furthermore, the reports show that Private Sector participation to water services is growing steadily in developing countries and delivers. |
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