Service Delivery Models forUnconventional Water Resources in About the Global Department for Water The World Bank Group’s Global Department for Water brings together financing,knowledge, and implementation in one platform. By combining the Bank’s globalknowledge with country investments, this model generates more firepower for Please visit us atwww.worldbank.org/wateror follow us on X:@WorldBankWater. About GWSP This publication received the support of the Global Water Security & SanitationPartnership (GWSP). GWSP is a multidonor trust fund administered by the World Bank’sGlobal Department for Water and supported by Australia’s Department of ForeignAffairs and Trade; Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance; Denmark’s Ministry of ForeignAffairs; the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gates Foundation; Spain’s Please visit us atwww.worldbank.org/gwspor follow us on X:@TheGwsp. About PPIAF The Public–Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) helps developing-countrygovernments strengthen policies, regulations, and institutions that enable sustainableinfrastructure with private-sector participation. As part of these efforts, PPIAF promotesknowledge-transfer by capturing lessons while funding research and tools availableon its knowledge platform—the Global Infrastructure Hub; builds capacity to scale Please visit us athttps://www.ppiaf.org/or follow us on X:@PPIAF_PPP. About PROBLUE PROBLUE is a multidonor trust fund housed at the World Bank that supports thedevelopment of integrated, sustainable and healthy marine and coastal resources.PROBLUE contributes to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 and Please visit us athttps://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/problue. Governance andEconomics of VOLUMEService Delivery Models for Desalinationin Poor and Remote Communities June 2025 © 2025 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations,and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the data included in thiswork and does not assume responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information, orliability with respect to the use of or failure to use the information, methods, processes, or conclusions setforth. The boundaries, colors, denominations, links/footnotes and other information shown in this work do Nothing herein shall constitute or be construed or considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of theprivileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Rights and Permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of itsknowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long as full Please cite the work as follows: World Bank. 2025. “Governance and Economics of Desalination andReuse: Volume 5. Service Delivery Models for Desalination in Poor and Remote Communities.” World Bank, Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World BankPublications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2625; Cover design:Circle Graphics. Cover photos:© Adobe Stock. Used with permission of Adobe Stock. Further permission required for reuse. Contents Acknowledgments Executive Summaryviii Abbreviations 1.About This Volume1 2.Desalination for Water Security in Remote and Vulnerable Communities 2.1.Why Unconventional Water Resources are Important2.2.Use Cases for Unconventional Water Resources in Poor and Remote Communities 6 3.LearningfromExperiencesin Maldives 3.1.The Water System Prior to Project Implementation3.2.Integrating Desalination into Water Resource Management3.3.Project Costs and Financing 33 4.Programa Água Doce Delivers Water Services in Northeastern Brazil 4.1.Water Security in Brazil’s Northeast Region4.2.Programmatic Approach and Design of the PAD4.3.The PAD Management Model Connects All Governmental Administrative Levels 5.Considerations for Designing Service Delivery Models IncludingDesalinated Water for Remote Communities 5.1.Embedding Desalination within the Broader Water Supply 5.2.Policy, Regulations, and Institutional Setup Create an Enabling Environment5.3.Financial Planning and Long-Term Financing Commitments EnsureLongevity of the System References BOXES 2.1.AWH as an Alternative to Conventional Water Resources 4.1.Selected Questions from PAD’s Shared Management Agreement FIGURES 1.1.Development Questions that World Bank’s Desalination and Reuse GovernanceGuidelines and Tools are Trying to Answer2.1.Overview of Use Cases for Small-Scale Desalination Systems2.2.Overview and Categorization of Desalina