Municipal Governance and Institutional Inefficiency in Water Supply Emergencies: Development and Validation of an Index
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Abstract
Municipal drinking water systems face increasing challenges associated with climate-related hazards, infrastructure failures, and institutional limitations that can compromise service continuity during emergency situations. Despite the growing importance of resilience-oriented water governance, existing performance assessment approaches primarily focus on technical efficiency and often overlook institutional capacities required for effective emergency response. This study developed and validated the Institutional Inefficiency Index for Water Emergencies (IIIWE), a composite indicator designed to quantify organizational inefficiencies in municipal water management systems operating under emergency conditions. The methodological framework integrates principles from institutional economics, water governance, reliability engineering, and resilience assessment. Four key dimensions were incorporated into the model: operational workforce availability, preventive maintenance compliance, equipment functionality, and emergency management systems. Variables were normalized and aggregated using a reliability-based approach to generate a single institutional inefficiency score ranging from 0 to 1. Instrument reliability and construct validity were evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin statistics, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity. Model robustness was further examined using sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. The results demonstrated satisfactory reliability, strong construct validity, and stable performance under varying parameter conditions. The proposed IIIWE provides a practical and scientifically robust tool for identifying institutional vulnerabilities, prioritizing management interventions, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of municipal drinking water systems facing emergency scenarios.