Public water services, public value and sustainability: The Monterrey metropolitan area case Servicios públicos del agua, valor público y sostenibilidad: El caso del área metropolitana de Monterrey

© 2018, Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas A.C. All rights reserved. This paper presents a characterization of water services as public services which purpose should be to generate public value. The case of the Monterrey¿s Metropolitan Area is analyzed; this case shows the complexity in creating public values for the social, financial and environmental sustainability of water services. Particularly, we analyze universal access, equity for consumption and affordability of water tariffs as public values for the social sustainability of water services. One of the main findings is that efficient water services utilities not necessarily generate public values. The case study shows a clear differentiation in water services access between urban and rural areas; different levels of consumption by income level; affordability; and a persistent loss of water in the water networks. All these aspects affect significantly the generation of public value.