Economías de escala en los servicios de agua potable y alcantarillado

The aim of this study is to systematize relevant experience, both in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean as elsewhere, referring to the economies of scale (and use) in providing services and potable water sewage in urban areas. This paper summarizes the state of the art in theoretical and practical aspects relating to the impact of these economies on the horizontal structure of industrial water and wastewater and the implications for public policy arising from it. The research questions are as detailed below: The first section explores the theoretical and conceptual aspects of the economies of scale and its implications for public policy, the second is devoted to the sources, magnitude and the determinants of economies of scale, while the third focuses on strategies to exploit these economies, the fourth focuses on the comparison of relevant experiences in various countries, and finally presents the conclusions and recommendations of the study. (Transl. Authors' abstract)