What price water ?

The documentary L'argent de l'eau, made on behalf of the French Development Agency, is about the installation of mini-networks of water fountains in Africa. Although water, an absolute necessity for life, should be free for everyone, this films demonstrates that it is necessary to pay for water if one wants to ensure that the networks work well and are well maintained. However, having overcome the economic debate, there remain endless details about collective management which need to be resolved. How does one fix the price of water ? How does one ensure that the water points are well managed ? How does one take decisions which reflect the interest of the public and not only the interests of those in power ? What balance can established between the traditional forms of co-operation and the more modern forms which in particular allow a role for women ?