Many organisations encourage developing countries to privatise water through some form of public private partnership (PPP) or private sector participation (PSP). The alternative of a public sector water undertaking (PWU) is ignored, although public sector water undertakings are the providers of water and sanitation services for the great majority of the population in developed countries.

Ignoring this option means that the main competitor to any of the private companies is being excluded. Yet there is evidence of problems with PPPs, and evidence that the public sector can successfully operate PWUs in developing countries, which the booklet sets out.