Delayed payment of residential water invoice and sustainability of water demand management.

This paper investigates empirically the reasons for delays in the payment of clean water invoice in Algeria. Using a data set of 27,363 households connected to the water services network and a small-sample survey of 172 household, we estimate several duration models to better understand the main determinants of water invoice time to payment. The delayed payment of water bills could be explained by three determinants: the household financial constraints, the quality of the public service provided, and disincentives through increasing water tariff structure, which is used to manage sustainably the demand for water. This study calls for a modification in the tariff structure to promote equity and water resource protection. It also suggests providing additional efforts to improve the quality of the public water service offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]