Water governance and integrated water resources management in public water utilities

Abstract

The increasing complexity of water management has intensified academic debate regarding the capacity of institutional frameworks to ensure the sustainability of water resources and the effectiveness of public water services. Within this context, limited understanding persists concerning the relationship between water governance, Integrated Water Resources Management, and the role of public water utilities in implementing sustainable management practices. This study aimed to analyze the scientific literature on water governance and Integrated Water Resources Management in public water utilities, identifying the main theoretical approaches, research trends, and knowledge gaps within the field. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines through a qualitative and documentary approach. The search process was carried out in specialized academic databases, resulting in the selection of twelve scientific articles focused on water governance, integrated management, and institutional capacities. Data were examined through thematic synthesis to identify conceptual patterns and dominant research lines. The findings indicate that water governance has become the dominant analytical framework in the field, while Integrated Water Resources Management has evolved from a normative concept toward an approach focused on implementation conditions. The review also highlights the central role of institutional capacities in sustainable water management and identifies a limited body of research specifically addressing public water utilities. The study contributes by integrating these dimensions within a single analytical framework and by highlighting the need for further applied research on the organizational mechanisms linking governance, integrated management, and water service provision.