OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT IN PPP WATER AND IRRIGATION PROJECTS: IMPACTS OF HARSH ENVIRONMENTS ON PUMPS, EQUIPMENT, AND LONG-LEAD ITEMS

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models have become a strategic approach for delivering water and irrigation infrastructure in regions facing rapid population growth, climate variability, and increasing water scarcity.These models allow governments to leverage private-sector financing, technical expertise, and operational efficiency.However, PPP projects in the water sector face significant operational risks, especially in harsh environmental conditions characterized by high temperatures, salinity, dust, and mechanical stress.Such conditions directly affect the reliability of pumps, electromechanical equipment, and long-lead items essential for continuous water delivery.This paper analyzes the operational risks associated with PPP water and irrigation projects, identifies key environmental stressors, evaluates their impact on equipment performance, and proposes a comprehensive risk-mitigation framework suitable for PPP contractual structures.The study highlights the importance of integrating engineering Mohamed Said Elkordy https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/JWRD 14 editor@iaeme.comcontrols, predictive maintenance, and contractual risk allocation to ensure long-term operational success.