MODERATION EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION ON THE JOINT INFLUENCE OF WATER PRICING, INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING, UTILITY EFFICIENCY AND SUBSIDIES ON FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF WATER SERVICE PROVIDERS IN KENYA

Purpose. To establish the influence of infrastructure financing on financial sustainability of water service providers (WSPs) in Kenya. Design/Method/Research approach. The study adopted the pragmatism research philosophy and an explanatory sequential mixed design targeting some senior managers selected from the eighty-eight registered WSPs in Kenya. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data while an interview schedule was used to collect the qualitative data from key informants. The data analysis was done on the bases of descriptive and inferential statistics; the nature and size of relationship was tested using correlation and the regression analysis while the results are presented using tables and graphs. Findings. The study concludes that Infrastructure financing has a positive and statistically significant influence on financial sustainability of WSPs in Kenya. Theoretical implications. The research proves that infrastructure financing has a statistically significant effect on financial sustainability of WSPs in Kenya. Practical implications. Taking into account the findings, it is recommended that the National government via the National treasury and WWDAs should ensure that all funding proposals capture end-to-end financing so as to increase the last mile connectivity. Social implications. The study also identifies the need for the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation (MWSI) to collaborate with key stakeholders in order to tap into local resources and development grants. Originality/Value. The study makes a unique contribution by establishing that infrastructure financing significantly influences financial sustainability of water service providers in Kenya. Research limitations/Future research. There is need to explore the possibility partnerships with communities and NGOs as the sector is highly indebted and unable to service the current loan portfolio. Paper type. Empirical.

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Service quality and customer satisfaction as antecedents of financial sustainability of the water service providers

The TQM Journal ◽

10.1108/tqm-05-2020-0104 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Abdullah Murrar ◽

Madan Batra ◽

James Rodger

Keyword(s):

Customer Satisfaction ◽

Service Quality ◽

Service Sector ◽

Service Providers ◽

Sustainability Indicators ◽

Financial Sustainability ◽

Water Sector ◽

Content Type ◽

Water Service ◽

Debt Collection

PurposeService quality and customer satisfaction influence the financial performance of service organizations. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the path relationship of service quality to customer satisfaction to financial sustainability in the water service sector, which is vital to the sustainable future of mankind. Further, these three interrelated constructs and their dimensions are clearly articulated.Design/methodology/approachSERVQUAL questionnaire responses were collected from 635 household families, and the financial sustainability indicators of 56 water providers were gathered as well. Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis were conducted to measure the internal consistency and convergent validity. Path analysis was utilized to evaluate the causal diagram by examining the relationships among service quality, customer satisfaction and financial sustainability using the AMOS software package.FindingsThe results showed that the five dimensions of service quality explain 58% of the customer satisfaction variation. The responsiveness, empathy, assurance and reliability have significant impact on the customer satisfaction where p < 0.05, while the tangible dimension has an insignificant effect. The results also revealed that customer satisfaction has a significant impact on the financial sustainability indicators of the water providers, where p = 0.000 for the debt collection ratio indicator, and p = 0.003 for the financial efficiency ratio indicator.Research limitations/implicationsThis research on financial sustainability is based on evidence about service quality and customer satisfaction in the Palestinian water sector. Future research on financial sustainability of the water sector may focus on the pricing mechanism and debt collection of water service.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that water providers should recognize the importance of service quality dimensions, which strengthen the customer satisfaction, which, in turn, is a significant driver for their financial sustainability. It is, therefore, sound to draw action-oriented managerial implications from these results.Originality/valueThe study adds to the literature of water service sector and is based on empirical evidence from primary data of household families and secondary data of water service providers from developing countries. This paper also contributes toward the strengthening of sustainability of the water service sector in Palestine – a worthy humanitarian cause. The study provides evidence useful for policy makers toward carving out policies aimed at strengthening the financial sustainability of the water service sector.

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Assessing Future Water Demand and Associated Energy Input with Plausible Scenarios for Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14082169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 2169

Author(s):

Pauline Macharia ◽

Nzula Kitaka ◽

Paul Yillia ◽

Norbert Kreuzinger

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

Water Demand ◽

Energy Input ◽

Service Providers ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Water Losses ◽

Water Service ◽

Current State ◽

Per Capita ◽

Sub Saharan

This study examined the current state of water demand and associated energy input for water supply against a projected increase in water demand in sub-Saharan Africa. Three plausible scenarios, namely, Current State Extends (CSE), Current State Improves (CSI) and Current State Deteriorates (CSD) were developed and applied using nine quantifiable indicators for water demand projections and the associated impact on energy input for water supply for five Water Service Providers (WSPs) in Kenya to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach based on real data in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, the daily per capita water-use in the service area of four of the five WSPs was below minimum daily requirement of 50 L/p/d. Further, non-revenue water losses were up to three times higher than the regulated benchmark (range 26–63%). Calculations showed a leakage reduction potential of up to 70% and energy savings of up to 12 MWh/a. The projected water demand is expected to increase by at least twelve times the current demand to achieve universal coverage and an average daily per capita consumption of 120 L/p/d for the urban population by 2030. Consequently, the energy input could increase almost twelve-folds with the CSI scenario or up to fifty-folds with the CSE scenario for WSPs where desalination or additional groundwater abstraction is proposed. The approach used can be applied for other WSPs which are experiencing a similar evolution of their water supply and demand drivers in sub-Saharan Africa. WSPs in the sub-region should explore aggressive strategies to jointly address persistent water losses and associated energy input. This would reduce the current water supply-demand gap and minimize the energy input that will be associated with exploring additional water sources that are typically energy intensive.

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Groundwater Data Management by Water Service Providers in Peri-Urban Areas of Lusaka

Water ◽

10.3390/w8040135 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 135 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

David Nussbaumer ◽

Ian Sutton ◽

Alison Parker

Keyword(s):

Data Management ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Service Providers ◽

Water Service

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Progress of water service providers in meeting millennium development goals in Kenya

African Geographical Review ◽

10.1080/19376812.2013.790643 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 105-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daniel K. Sambu ◽

Aondover Tarhule

Keyword(s):

Millennium Development Goals ◽

Service Providers ◽

Water Service ◽

Development Goals

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Implementation of an on-line artificial intelligence district meter area flow meter data analysis system for abnormality detection: a case study

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2010.697 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 437-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

S. R. Mounce ◽

J. B. Boxall

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Customer Service ◽

Service Providers ◽

Software Tool ◽

Time Data ◽

Water Service ◽

Intelligence System ◽

Flow Monitoring ◽

Data Analysis System

Faster detection of bursts saves water, minimises the inconvenience of interruption to customers and decreases the damaging consequences to infrastructure. Flow monitoring techniques are used by water service providers to monitor leakage, generally through offline application of mass balance type calculations and manual observations of change in night line values. This paper presents the combination of real-time data collection (using cello loggers with General Packet Radio Service communications) and a self-learning, online Artificial Intelligence system for detection of bursts at the District Meter Area level. The system components consist of communications software, a data warehouse and a MATLAB application. The online system continuously analysed a set of 146 DMAs in a case study area every hour generating automated alerts in response to abnormal flow. Specific examples are given, including a validation field test, and overall results are presented for a one year period. 36% of alerts were found to correspond to bursts confirmed by repair data or customer burst reports with only 18% ghosts. The results indicate that the software tool has the potential to reduce lost water and improve customer service hence enhancing water service provider's reputations.

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Deterioration characteristics of cement-improved loess under dry–wet and freeze–thaw cycles

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0253199 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0253199

Author(s):

Ying-jun Jiang ◽

Chen-yang Ni ◽

Hong-wei Sha ◽

Zong-hua Li ◽

Lu-yao Cai

Keyword(s):

Static Pressure ◽

Vertical Vibration ◽

Strength Degradation ◽

Freeze Thaw ◽

Molding Method ◽

Pressure Method ◽

Joint Influence ◽

Influence Of Water ◽

Degradation Effect ◽

Deterioration Characteristics

The effects of cement dosage, compaction coefficient, molding method (vertical vibration method and static pressure method), and dry–wet and freeze–thaw cycles on the mechanical strength of cement-improved loess (CIL) were studied to reveal its strength degradation law under dry–wet and freeze–thaw cycles. Results show that when using the vertical vibration molding method, the strength degradation effect of CIL can be improved by increasing the cement dosage and compaction coefficient; however, it is not obvious. Under the action of dry–wet cycle, damages, such as voids and cracks of CIL, develop continuously. Further, the strength deteriorates continuously and does not decrease after more than 15 dry–wet cycles. Therefore, the dry–wet cycle degradation system is selected by considering the most unfavorable conditions. In the process of freeze–thaw alternation, the pores and fissures of CIL develop and evolve continuously and the strength deteriorates continuously under the joint influence of water and low temperature. The strength tends to become stable after more than 12 freeze–thaw cycles. According to the safety principle, the deterioration coefficient of the freeze–thaw cycles is 0.3.

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Tinjauan Yuridis Terhadap Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang Oleh Penyedia Jasa Pekerja Seks Komersial (Studi Putusan Nomor 741/Pid.Sus/2016/PN. Mdn)

JUNCTO: Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum ◽

10.31289/juncto.v2i2.327 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 181-188

Author(s):

Andreas Teguhta Kaban ◽

Aulia Rosa Nasution ◽

Ridho Mubarak

Keyword(s):

Human Trafficking ◽

Government Regulation ◽

Service Providers ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Legal Analysis ◽

Trafficking In Persons ◽

Sex Worker ◽

Legal Provisions ◽

Women Trafficking ◽

Sexual Services

The crime of trafficking in persons (human trafficking) is a very complex crime so it is difficult to eradicate. However, attention to trafficking in persons is more focused on women as vulnerable groups in this discussion (women trafficking). The purpose of this study is to see more clearly that there is still a link between the crime of commercial sex worker service providers with the crime of trafficking in persons. The method of approach that the authors take in this research is descriptive qualitative. The underlying factors are economic, family, religious, lack of awareness, the desire to get rich quickly. The legal provisions in Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Criminal Act of Trafficking in Persons have been supplemented with implementing regulations, namely Government Regulation Number 9 of 2008 concerning Procedures and Mechanisms for Integrated Services for Witnesses and / or Victims of Trafficking in People in Article 1 paragraph 1 and Presidential Regulation No. 69/2008 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Criminal Acts of Trafficking in Persons Article 4. Legal Analysis that the Defendant is proven guilty of committing a crime "intentionally as a livelihood or habit of committing or facilitating obscene acts with others" and the Defendant has become a pimp by providing women who are trafficked for sexual services so that the Defendant benefits from these actions.

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An Empirical Study on Effect of Experience on Consumer Adoption Intention towards Electronic Banking

International Journal of Emerging Research in Management and Technology ◽

10.23956/ijermt.v6i9.83 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (9) ◽

pp. 42

Author(s):

Monica Bhardwaj ◽

Renu Aggarwal

Keyword(s):

Technology Acceptance ◽

Service Providers ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Financial Service ◽

Electronic Banking ◽

Moderation Effect ◽

User Perceptions ◽

Acceptance Model ◽

Digital Channels ◽

Adoption Intention

Electronic banking has emerged as the most lucrative and cost effective service in electronic commerce. While the movement of the major banks and financial service providers towards the digital channels, the future scope of online presence appears highly optimistic. Besides offering major banking services through this mode, the banks and financial service providers get platform to maintain direct connect with their customers that enable them to offer superior services and strengthen customer relations. The present study investigates the moderation effect of user experience with varied lengths of use on the adoption intention and continued use towards electronic banking. The study extends technology acceptance model to examine the user perceptions towards electronic banking over a period of time. The findings highlight the differences in behavior based on the frequency use. The study provides useful implications for the academicians and the managers.

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