Wolfgang Bretschneider

How can the human right to water be successfully secured? The answer: only when the politics of its provision encompass not only social, but also ecological and economic dimensions of sustainability. Wolfgang Bretschneider sketches an institutional economics-based concept for equitable provision, a multifaceted subject because private householders are not only the carriers of a claim, but conversely also bear responsibility for the environment and towards society. Only when this is taken into consideration can the household's long-term supply be secured. This book focuses on tracing the fine line between the right to use water and responsibility for it, and applies insights to questions of water pricing. Against this background, the author examines how to interpret key terms such as access to water and affordability, and with which tools an equitable provision can be pursued.