PRASA, Puerto Rico
Public Water Agency of the Year
What is it?
The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority is the water and wastewater utility for Puerto Rico.
What has it done?
Until as recently as 2004, the island's underperforming water services were an obstacle to its development. A failed attempt at outsourcing the management of the system was followed by a change of management and a rigorous programme of improvement. This is already bearing fruit. The backlog of leaks awaiting repair has been reduced from 30,000 ten years ago to 200 today. Operating revenue has doubled, and the agency now makes a surplus on its operations. The agency is two years into a five-year capital improvement programme.
Why is it shortlisted?
- PRASA merits global recognition for the transformation it has effected since 2004. No other improvement plans put into action by a public authority have delivered such convincing results in such a short time.
- At the heart of the transformation there have been a number of uniquely successful partnerships with the private sector. The model deserves to be replicated elsewhere in the world.
- At the centre of the changes at PRASA has been a drive to achieve financial independence. This is the best guarantee that the improvement programme will be sustainable in the long term.