There is much debate about the benefits and drawbacks of government intervention in market mechanisms. The objectives of regulation occur at various levels and may cover a range of national policy and municipal goals including efficiency and economic growth. Putting poor people at the centre of the question, however, the objective of regulation is to ensure that the delivery process and the outcomes achieved address the basic health, environmental, access and equity concerns of the municipality and the society. Municipalities may need advice to determine whether their own objectives are best met through regulation or market forces, the degree of regulation and the nature of the regulatory mechanism.