The property rights issue is central in this respect. This raises questions as to future sources of finance and asset management. Securing financial and investment assets may require water user groups to seek private-public partnerships to raise capital and develop skills in long term asset management for infrastructure renewal. This is because there remain many impediments to water market formation related to, for example, issues of equity, incomplete science, specific quantity-related property rights, high transaction costs in creating water markets, and the historical allocation of water. In addressing these issues a different mix of policies may be appropriate, such as the use of well-targeted payments where farmers provide a clearly-defined and verifiable public good or service, such as wetland conservation areas. A few countries, however, are using water markets to meet consumptive (address the scarcity value of water) and environmental objectives.