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Water Civilization: The Evolution of the Dutch Drinking Water Sector

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  • David Zetland

    (Leiden University College, Anna van Buerenplein 301, 2595 DG Den Haag, Netherlands)

  • Bene Colenbrander

    (Leiden University College, Anna van Buerenplein 301, 2595 DG Den Haag, Netherlands)

Abstract

Dutch drinking water companies now deliver safe affordable water to the entire population, but this result was not planned. It emerged, rather, from an evolutionary process in which various pressures on the commons resulted in changes to drinking water systems that addressed old concerns but uncovered new problems. Our analytical narrative traces this problem-solution-new problem pattern through four eras in which a common-pool dilemma is addressed by a private-good solution (1850–1880), a club-good solution (1880–1910) and a public-good solution (1910–1950) before returning to a private-good solution in the last 1950–1990 era. Actions, like the dates just given, were not always exact or effective, as the process was shaped by changing social norms regarding the distribution of costs and benefits from improved water services. This Dutch history is unique, but its insights can help improve drinking water services elsewhere.

Suggested Citation

  • David Zetland & Bene Colenbrander, 2018. "Water Civilization: The Evolution of the Dutch Drinking Water Sector," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(03), pages 1-36, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:wepxxx:v:04:y:2018:i:03:n:s2382624x18500121
    DOI: 10.1142/S2382624X18500121
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jos L. T. Blank & Bert Enserink & Alex A. S. van Heezik, 2019. "Policy Reforms and Productivity Change in the Dutch Drinking Water Industry: A Time Series Analysis 1980–2015," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Zetland, David, 2023. "Teaching Water Economics by Building Problem-Based Case Studies," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 5(3), September.
    3. Zetland, David, 2023. "Teaching Water Economics by Building Problem-Based Case Studies," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 5(2), April.

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