Finnish Water Services: Experiences in Global Perspective

摘要

Few would dispute the fact that access to water, and particularly urban water, is one of the major challenges faced by humankind now and in the future. Perhaps, more would disagree about what would be the most convenient approach to eradicate the tremendous injustices associated with water and sanitation access in many parts of the world that are likely to worsen in the future due to climate change. Some would like to see the cure to all water supply and sanitation ills in a strong and centralized state. Others would prefer the remedies provided by privatization and the free operation of the market while still others would resort to more communitarian views. However, those seeking a balanced and yet passionate view on how to best accomplish the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals of water and sanitation for all will find in this book a novel approach to the study of water services that uses the Finnish case to embark in a fascinating journey on the history, economics, politics, and international cooperation efforts related to urban water. The author, Professor Tapio Katko, is UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Water Services at the Tampere University of Technology and holds considerable experience in this matter not only in Finland and the Baltic Sea region, but also in many areas of the developing world including African and Asian countries.