IDB And IWA Set Up AquaRating, The World's First Rating Agency For The Water Sector

AquaRating sets water and sanitation utilities on path towards management and performance improvement

Jointly developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Water Association (IWA), AquaRating fills a gap in the market by establishing the international standard for assessing water and sanitation services provision. AquaRating offers a comprehensive, impartial and credible evaluation of the utilities’ performance and best management practices.

AquaRating assesses water and sanitation services providers according to three dimensions: performance indicators, best practices and information quality. The rating system gives a detailed evaluation of 112 elements across eight key areas and validates information through an independent auditing process, enhancing accountability and transparency. As a standard, AquaRating sets the baseline for utilities to monitor their performance and plan for improvements.

IDB has licensed AquaRating to the IWA to set up the first rating agency for water and sanitation services providers. The rating system has already been piloted in thirteen utilities in nine countries in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. A worldwide market introduction is planned for 2015.

“The launch of AquaRating establishes a new global standard for water and sanitation services provision”, Ger Bergkamp, IWA Executive Director said. “It will make a significant contribution to improving utility performance, vital to delivering more effective and efficient services, and allowing them to respond to ever-increasing water pressures.”

About AquaRating
“AquaRating gives water and sanitation services providers a roadmap to anticipate future challenges”, Sergio Campos, Water and Sanitation Division Chief at the IDB, added. “The rating system allows for better planning and decision making processes for the utilities’ management to achieve sustainable and efficient outcomes. AquaRating helps water and sanitation services providers become more resilient. Empowering water and sanitation utilities is a crucial step towards ensuring water and sanitation for all.”

AquaRating evaluates the performance of water and sanitation services providers across eight key areas:

• Access to Service
• Quality of Service
• Operating Efficiency
• Planning & Investment Execution Efficiency
• Business Management Efficiency
• Financial Sustainability
• Environmental Sustainability
• Corporate Governance.

AquaRating has been successfully tested in thirteen utilities from nine countries:

• Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic

For more information, visit www.aquarating.org.