Sustainable Development and Efficiency Analysis of the Major Urban Water Utilities in Spain

In Spain, the water supply service is a municipal responsibility and in general sector without competitors. For this reason, an efficiency analysis attains greater significance. This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate of different urban utilities. An extensive data search, where several variables such as capital expenditure, cost material, or labor have been recorded, has allowed evaluating relative most important Spanish distribution networks using their resources. Furthermore, sustainable also evaluated by including variable representing percentage losses. Results reveal weaknesses inefficient utilities help detect potential aspects that these companies should improve. instance, there evident incorrect management costs material many utilities, which does not happen with labor. Additionally, efficient regarding discover target percentages losses for ones.