AWWA ACE54405

The use of public participation as an element of planning is a new concept in Ukraine. Most water utilities are owned by the municipal or oblast (state) governments and have been accustomed to plans being dictated from central planning agencies or, lately, to do the planning themselves. A project being funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1999 - 2002 is working with the municipalities and utilities to encourage customer-focused planning for future capital expenditures. The initial four cities in the project have been working with this concept for a year and they have been successful in involving the public in the planning process. Includes tables, figure.