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The True Cost of Water: Why Transport Infrastructure and Energy Costs Must Be Considered in Emerging Markets

Updated: Aug 22

Understanding the pricing of water sector is complex.


 

In many emerging markets, water is often treated as an abundant, low-cost resource. However, the reality is that water is becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change, population growth, and unsustainable usage practices. This scarcity is compounded by the significant, yet often overlooked, costs associated with transporting and delivering water, especially in regions with inadequate infrastructure. To ensure the sustainable management and equitable distribution of water, it is imperative that the full costs—including transport infrastructure and energy—are factored into the pricing of this vital commodity.

 

Understanding the Complexity of Water Pricing

Water pricing in emerging markets tends to focus primarily on the costs of extraction and basic treatment. However, this approach ignores the substantial expenses involved in transporting water from its source to where it is needed, especially in regions where natural water availability is limited. The energy required to pump, treat, and distribute water also represents a significant cost that is often excluded from the final price paid by consumers.

 

Failing to account for these additional costs can lead to underpricing of water, which in turn encourages overuse and waste, further exacerbating water scarcity. Moreover, the lack of adequate pricing mechanisms prevents the necessary investments in infrastructure and energy systems that are critical for ensuring long-term water security.

 

The Role of Transport Infrastructure in Water Costs

Transport infrastructure is a crucial, yet often undervalued, component of the water supply chain. In many emerging markets, water must be transported over long distances from remote sources to urban centres, agricultural areas, and industrial zones. This is particularly true in regions where water resources are unevenly distributed, such as in India, South Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

 

# Example: India’s Interlinking of Rivers Project

India’s ambitious Interlinking of Rivers project aims to connect the country’s major rivers through a network of canals, reservoirs, and pipelines to redistribute water from surplus areas to regions facing severe water shortages. The project, estimated to cost around $168 billion, highlights the massive investments required to develop water transport infrastructure on such a scale. While the project could potentially mitigate water scarcity in drought-prone areas, the costs associated with building and maintaining this infrastructure must be reflected in the pricing of water to ensure its sustainability.

 

In many cases, the infrastructure needed to transport water across large distances is not adequately maintained, leading to inefficiencies, water losses, and higher operational costs. For instance, in South Africa, it is estimated that up to 37% of water is lost due to leaks and infrastructure failures before it even reaches consumers. These losses represent not just wasted water, but also wasted energy and resources that were used in the process of extracting and transporting that water.

 

The Hidden Energy Costs of Water

The energy required to pump, treat, and distribute water is another significant, yet frequently ignored, component of water pricing. In many emerging markets, the energy used in the water sector accounts for a substantial portion of the total national energy consumption. This is particularly true in countries where water must be transported over long distances or where water treatment processes are energy-intensive.

 

# Example: Desalination in the Middle East

In the Middle East, where freshwater resources are scarce, desalination has become a critical solution for providing drinking water. However, desalination is an extremely energy-intensive process. For example, it takes about 3 to 10 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy to produce just one cubic metre of desalinated water. In Saudi Arabia, desalination plants account for nearly 20% of the country’s total electricity consumption. The high energy demand not only contributes to the cost of water but also places a significant burden on the country’s energy resources, which are largely derived from fossil fuels.

 

Despite these high costs, water produced through desalination is often heavily subsidised, leading to prices that do not reflect the true cost of production. This underpricing discourages water conservation and places additional strain on both water and energy resources.

 

# Example: Pumping Water in Sub-Saharan Africa

In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, water is pumped from deep aquifers or transported over long distances using energy-intensive methods. The cost of this energy, often generated from diesel-powered pumps, is substantial and varies with fluctuations in global fuel prices. In countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, where rural communities rely heavily on such systems, the energy costs can represent a significant portion of the overall cost of water. However, these costs are rarely passed on to consumers, leading to a disconnect between the price of water and the resources required to deliver it.

 

The Importance of True Cost Pricing

Accurately pricing water by including the full costs of transport infrastructure and energy is essential for several reasons:

 

1. Promotes Sustainable Use:

When water is underpriced, it is often overused, leading to depletion of water sources and increased environmental degradation. True cost pricing encourages more efficient use of water, helping to ensure that resources are conserved for future generations.

 

2. Supports Infrastructure Investment:

Adequate pricing provides the necessary funds for maintaining and upgrading water transport and distribution infrastructure. In many emerging markets, there is a significant infrastructure deficit that hampers the reliable delivery of water. True cost pricing can generate the revenue needed to close this gap.

 

3. Ensures Economic Viability:

For water utilities and providers, recovering the full cost of water production, including transport and energy, is essential for their financial sustainability. Without adequate pricing, these entities may struggle to maintain operations, leading to service disruptions and reduced access to water.

 

4. Encourages Innovation:

By reflecting the true costs of water, including the energy required for its delivery, pricing can incentivise the adoption of more energy-efficient technologies and practices. For example, the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar-powered water pumps, can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower the overall cost of water in the long term.

 


Policy Recommendations for Emerging Markets

To address the challenges of underpricing water in emerging markets, policymakers should consider the following actions:

 

1. Implement Cost-Reflective Tariffs:

Introduce water pricing structures that reflect the full costs of transport infrastructure and energy. This could involve tiered pricing, where users who consume more water pay a higher rate, reflecting the additional costs incurred in delivering that water.

 

2. Invest in Infrastructure:

Prioritise investments in water transport and distribution infrastructure to reduce losses and improve efficiency. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) could be an effective way to mobilise the necessary capital for these investments.

 

3. Promote Energy Efficiency:

Encourage the adoption of energy-efficient technologies in the water sector, such as solar-powered pumps and more efficient desalination processes. Governments could offer subsidies or tax incentives to support the transition to these technologies.

 

4. Educate Consumers:

Raise awareness among consumers about the true cost of water and the importance of conservation. Public education campaigns can help shift behaviour towards more sustainable water use.

 

5. Subsidise the Vulnerable:

While moving towards true cost pricing, it is important to protect vulnerable populations who may struggle to afford higher water prices. Targeted subsidies or social safety nets can ensure that access to water remains equitable.

 


Conclusion

In emerging markets, the true cost of water is often hidden by the exclusion of transport infrastructure and energy costs from pricing mechanisms. By recognising and incorporating these costs into water pricing, we can promote more sustainable water use, support critical infrastructure investments, and ensure the long-term viability of water resources. As the challenges of climate change and population growth intensify, it is imperative that we adopt a more comprehensive approach to water pricing—one that reflects the true value of this essential resource and secures its availability for future generations.

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