The urban political ecology of water in Cape Town

Swimming pools and intra-city climates: Influences on residential water consumption in Cape Town

“…The CoCT has, on the other hand, been criticised for taking a privatisation approach in its water management, where the fundamentals are focused on WDM, efficiency and the 'user pays on the marginal cost' principle (Smith, 2001;Smith and Hanson, 2003;Smith, 2004). More socially equitable pricing schemes are required as the current IBT system only appears to impact households living on the margin of comfort, while those with greater wealth adjust their consumption seasonally.…”

Pro-poor water service strategies in developing countries: promoting justice in Uganda's urban project

“…According to Smith (2001), nations (for example, South Africa) have utilized notions of distributive justice in adopting public policies that promise universal access to public services. A decade earlier, in considering social justice that promotes the equal distribution of consumer goods, Young (1990) (Young, 1990: 25).…”

“…For example, Smith (2001) contrasts the public sector with private sector suppliers; he asserts that, unlike the public sector monopoly of water utilities that, ultimately, aims for universal access, private sector suppliers rely on a more narrow financial cost benefit analysis geared towards cost-recovery and maximising profit in a market setting. This approach, however, neglects the negative externalities that stem from excluding access to those who are unable to pay fees for water.…”

The paradox of ‘Free Basic Water’ and cost recovery in Grabouw: Increasing household debt and municipal financial loss

“…Firstly, the quantity--25 litres per person per day--is half the amount of water recommended by the World Health Organisation and the RDP's medium term goal as necessary for meeting basic access (Smith and Hanson, 2003: 1530, Dor, Himlin and Ruiters, 2002. Therefore, FBW is criticised as "a very low minimum for water consumption..." (Smith andHanson, 2003: 1530) and thus not necessarily sufficient to address basic water needs.…”