The remunicipalization of Parisian water services: new challenges for local authorities and policy implications

Abstract

In 2010, Parisian authorities remunicipalized water services. This paper addresses three main questions: How did this reform come about? Why did public authorities return to a public management model for water services? What are the main policy implications? It identifies two critical factors: (1) the promotion of a “revisited” model of public-private partnerships by international institutions, and (2) the rise of a new political vision amongst local authorities concerning their own role as key actors in water services management.

Keywords:

• water services
• remunicipalization
• public management
• public-private partnership
• Paris

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank members of the municipal government of Paris, managers at Veolia and Suez, and the experts on the subject who kindly agreed to share their opinions and knowledge with me.