Service public d’eau en régie : vers une gouvernance efficace ?

In the French water sector, some large cities have put an end to public service delegations entrusted to private operators and have chosen to return in public control, which may seem surprising in view of the new public management advocating the private sector model. In a water sector, a "natural monopoly" marked by strong moral hazard, information asymmetries and many uncertainties, public service delegations continue to raise serious governance issues both theoretically and empirically, despite more restrictive regulations. A three-year intervention-research in a new régie, public operator, contributed to the implementation of management tools. The multiple data collected (documents, interviews, participant observations, etc.) make it possible to analyze micro-changes in governance. The choices made facilitated the development of multilateral and hybrid governance. Personalized régie status promotes framed autonomy and plural representation including citizen-users. The close relationship between the public operator and the organizing authority facilitates a greater sharing of values, information and knowledge. The negotiation of an objectives contract leads to a mix of control, trust and reciprocity. This complex interplay of relationships, a delicate balance between hierarchy, exchange and cooperation, ultimately contributes to more effective governance.