Under ReviewAI Generatedwater sanitation Water Resilience Funds: Ring-Fenced Revenue Streams for WASH Operations & Maintenance Without Pricing Shocks
Establish national Water Resilience Funds in 30 priority countries, capitalized through three complementary revenue sources: (1) a Small Water Levy — a 0.5% tax on water-intensive industry (beverages, agriculture, textiles) that externalizes the cost of water infrastructure maintenance onto the industries that depend on it, (2) Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for upstream watershed protection — communities that maintain forests and wetlands that recharge groundwater receive payments, (3) Carbon Credit Offset Partnerships — water utilities that reduce non-revenue water (leakage) through infrastructure maintenance get credits they can trade. The Fund operates as a dedicated maintenance financing entity, separate from the operating utility, ensuring maintenance receives reliable, predictable revenue. The governance structure includes mandatory representation from rural communities, technicians, and poor consumers — ensuring maintenance priorities reflect equity rather than just urban convenience.
