Water Sector Restructuring in Ontario: Expert Ques

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Purpose: The following questionnaire is part of a research project on water governance and conservation in Canada funded by the University of British Columbia. The results of the survey will be published in academic journals and as a policy report. If you would like to receive copies of these, please indicate that in the comments box at the end of the questionnaire.

Instructions: Please return this questionnaire by email if you have not already replied by mail. Please answer all questions, skipping Part 4 if you are not an employee of a municipal water supply provider. If you do not feel that you are the appropriate person to respond to this questionnaire, please direct it to the attention of the most appropriate person in your organization.

Confidentiality: The survey is anonymous. The information given in the survey will not be associated with a specific office or unit in a form that would make their individual identities deducible by the well-informed reader. Please see the enclosed consent form for further details.

Definition: New Public Management (NPM) refers to the introduction of the methods of private sector management into the public sector. Examples include: explicit performance standards, results based management, knowing the customer and market like structures and incentives (e.g. competition).

1a. Are you employed with …

A Municipal Water Provider

OCWA

Provincial Government

Conservation Authority

NGO

Other

Which Municipality?

Which Ministry and Department?

Which Conservation Authority?

Which NGO?

If "other", please specify

a. In what capacity are you employed with this organization (primary responsibilities)?

b. How many years you been employed in this capacity?

c. How many years have you been employed in the water sector in Ontario (including with other organizations)?

3. What activities does your organization undertake? Please tick all that apply.

Water Quality Testing

Municipal Water Provision

Water Quality Standards Development

Research

Water Allocation

Policy Development for Governance

Source Protection

Monitoring of Water Utilities/Providers

Water Conservation

Training

Ecosystem Protection

Advocacy

Other, Please specify

4. In your opinion, what are the most important water supply management issues for your organization? Please rank, with 1 indicating greatest importance.

Source Protection

Economic Sustainability

Water Conservation

Pursuing the incorporation of New Public Management Methods

Avoiding the incorporation of New Public Management Methods

Equitable Access to Water Services

Public Safety

Public Participation

Other, please specify in next window

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q4 above

5. In your opinion, what are the primary challenges faced by the water sector at present? Please rank as above.

Cost Recovery

Resource Stress

Infrastructural Investment Needs

Too Much Incorporation of New Public Management Methods

Too Little Incorporation of New Public Management Methods

High Water Use

Public Safety

Consumer Access to Water Services

Other, please specify in next window

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q5 above.

Please specify whether you were refering to Ontario generally or your municipality in your response to Q5 above.

6. How important are improving the following for your organization?

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant
Environmental Sustainability	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Full Cost Recovery	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Private Sector Participation	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Government Regulation of Water Supply	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Accountability	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Equitable Access	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Efficiency	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Infrastructure	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Other, please specify in next window	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

If applicable, please specify "other" in your response to Q6 above.

7 a) What elements would your organization promote for the improvement of efficiency in your municipality or Ontario generally?

	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All
Cost Reduction	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Water Loss Reduction	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Full Cost Recovery	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Water Conservation	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Improving Customer Service	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Infrastructure Life Extension	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Improving the Quality of Tap-Water	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Source Protection	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

Other, please specify in next window	Primarily	Somewhat	Not at All

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q7a above.

Please specify whether you were refering to Ontario generally or your municipality in your response to Q7a above.

7 b) Has your organization’s approach to efficiency changed recently? If so, how? Why?

8 a) How much do the following statements reflect your organization’s view of water pricing?

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Everyone Pays According to their Consumption	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Ability to Pay Should Be Reflected in User Fees	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

It is Better to Subsidize Industry than Households	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Unit Prices Should Increase with Greater Use	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Prices Should Reflect Economies of Scale	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Others, please specify in next window	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q8a above.

8 b) How should the above views be reflected in actual pricing mechanisms? Has this changed in recent years? If so, how? Why?

9 a) How much could the following help to increase environmental sustainability in Ontario's water sector?

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Public Education Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Municipal Ordinances (e.g. use restrictions)	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Water Saving Devices and Retrofits	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Infrastructural Improvements	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Water Reuse Technologies	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Direct Accountability for Sustainability	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Increased Transparency in Decision-Making	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Governmental Regulation	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Increased Incorporation of New Public Management Methods	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Conservation Inducing Pricing	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Others, please specify in next window	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q9a above.

9 b) Have concepts of/ approaches to environmental sustainability changed in recent years? If so, how? Why?

10. Do you feel that each level of government should be solely responsible for financing the services it provides?

11. Should municipalities have greater legislative authority vis-à-vis the provincial government than they do at present?

12. In your opinion, how has the unbundling of electricity from water supply impacted water supply in Ontario? After answering the question, please indicate if you are referring to your municipality or Ontario generally in the next window.

Please specify whether you were refering to Ontario generally or your municipality in your response to Q12 above.

13. What is your opinion of the decline of the PUC as a governance model for water utilities in Ontario?

14 a) Do you agree with the current distribution of responsibilities for water servicing in Ontario?

14 b) If you disagree, how could the distribution of responsibilities be improved?

15. To what degree do you feel you could influence the following organizations/groups on management/policy decisions/orientations?

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Municipal Water Utilities	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

The Public	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

NGOs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

OCWA	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Ministry of the Environment	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Ministry of Natural Resources	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Others, please specify in next window	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q15 above.

16. What business model was used to operate water services in your municipality prior to the reorganization of municipal-provincial relations in Ontario in the 1990s?

What business model is used currently?

17. What type of business model did your organization advocate for water services prior to the reorganization of municipal-provincial relations in Ontario in the 1990s?

What type of business model does your organization advocate now?

18 a) How has the reorientation of business models affected the prioritisation of the following governance issues by water supply managers in Ontario?

	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important
Environmental Sustainability	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

Public Participation	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

Transparency	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

Accountability	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

Full Cost Recovery	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

Pursuing the Incorporation of New Public Management Methods	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

Others, please specify in next window	Much More Important	Just as Important	Much Less Important

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q18 above.

18 b) Have the above priorities changed recently? If so, how? Why?

19. What do you see as the implications of the restructuring of the water supply industry for the following aspects of water supply management?

	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased
Resource Conservation	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Decision-Making Flexibility	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Equitable Water Access	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Public Participation	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Financial Sustainability	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Infrastructural Maintenance and Improvements	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Ability to Implement New Programs	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Focus on Demand Management	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Full Cost Recovery	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

Others, please specify in next window	Much Increased	Remained the Same	Much Decreased

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q19 above.

Please specify whether you were refering to Ontario generally or your municipality in your response to Q19 above.

20. To what degree are the following drivers for or inhibitors to the uptake of conservation in the water sector?

	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors
Public Concern	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Governmental Pressure	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Changes to the Degree of Transparency*	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

New Forms of Accountability**	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Infrastructural Costs	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Cost Recovery Concerns	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Environmental sustainability concerns	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Increasing incorporation of New Public Management Methods	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

Others, please specify in next window	Strong Drivers	No Impact	Strong Inhibitors

*Please specify whether, in your opinion, the level of transparency refered to above is increasing or decreasing.

**Please specify whether, in your opinion, the new forms of accountability refered to above are more direct or less direct from the point of view of the consumer.

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q20 above.

Please specify whether you were refering to Ontario generally or your municipality in your response to Q20 above.

Are you employed by a municipal water provider?

Yes

21. How important are the following goals for implementing demand management in your area?

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant
Long-term Cost Savings	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Short-term Cost Savings	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Improving Infrastructural Life-Span	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Water Source Protection	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Water Conservation	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Increased Affordability of Water Services	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Increased incorporation of New Public Management Methods	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Others, please specify in next window	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q21 above.

22 a)To what degree have the following demand management approaches been adopted in your municipality?

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Metering	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Pricing	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Municipal Ordinances	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

O & M Measures to Reduce Water Loss	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

O & M Measures to Reduce Consumption	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Plumbing Retrofits	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Public Participation Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Public Education Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Others, please specify in next window	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q21 above.

22b) In accordance with your municipality’s goals for demand management, to what degree do you think these demand management approaches should be adopted in your municipality?

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Metering	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Pricing	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Municipal Ordinances	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

O & M Measures to Reduce Water Loss	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

O & M Measures to Reduce Consumption	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Plumbing Retrofits	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Public Participation Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Public Education Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Others, please specify in next window	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q22b above.

22 c) Please explain any differences between your responses to parts a and b.

23. How easy or difficult are the following types of demand management to implement?

	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult
Metering	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

Pricing	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

Municipal Ordinances	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

O & M Measures to Reduce Water Loss	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

O & M Measures to Reduce Consumption	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

Plumbing Retrofits	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

Public Participation Programs	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

Public Education Programs	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

Others, please specify in next window	Very Easy	Average	Very Difficult

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q23 above.

24. What could be changed to enhance the performance of demand management?

25. What could be changed to increase the implementation of demand management technologies by your organization?

26. Do you charge user fees for water in your area?

Yes

26 a) How do you establish water charges (Metering, flat rate, percentage of property value etc)?

26 b) If you have metering, what is the rate structure (constant unit charge, increasing block etc) and price per unit of water?

26 c) What do you think is the best method of charging user fees? If different from the above, why has it not been implemented?

27 a) How important are the following for achieving the financial sustainability of water services in your municipality?

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant
Provincial Transfers	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Provincial Grants	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Property Tax	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Residential/Commercial Revenues	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Industrial Revenues	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Measures to Reduce Demand	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Increasing the Customer Base	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Developing New Markets for Water Services	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

Others, please specify in next window	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Very Unimportant

If applicable, please specify "other" from Q27a above.

27 b) Has this changed in recent years? If so, how? Why?

28. Do you have any comments that you would like to add? (references to relevant reports/publications would be appreciated) Would you like to receive copies of reports and publications developed from this study?

Would you like to receive copies of reports and publications developed from this study? If yes, please provide an email address.

22 a)To what degree have the following demand management approaches been adopted in your municipality?

	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All
Metering	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Pricing	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Municipal Ordinances	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

O & M Measures to Reduce Water Loss	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

O & M Measures to Reduce Consumption	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Plumbing Retrofits	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Public Participation Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Public Education Programs	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

Others, please specify in next window	Very Much	Somewhat	Not at All

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Water Sector Restructuring in Ontario: Expert Ques

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