Pan-European public water sector benchmarking and investigation of influencing factors

This paper develops a framework to benchmark public water sector efficiency across Europe, addressing the lack of a relevant comparative assessment tool. Using dynamic network data envelopment analysis (DEA) and statistical analysis, it evaluates water provision, wastewater treatment and overall performance in 26 countries from 2013 to 2020. Results show that modern infrastructure, advanced treatment technologies and effective resource management are associated with higher efficiency, while structural and operational constraints hinder performance. Improving efficiency requires targeted infrastructure upgrades, enhanced resource recovery and broader sector restructuring. The paper provides the first comprehensive, comparative pan‑European water sector efficiency study and offers decision‑support insights for integrated, context‑sensitive governance.