Who owns your water? Private companies are turning water into a for-profit commodity--let the drinker beware!Around the world publicly owned Publicly owned can refer to:
Disease acquired by drinking water contaminated at its source or in the distribution system, or by direct contact with environmental and recreational waters. , "[Private water companies] don't go into countries with thoughts of doing the poor a good turn," says U.K. the privatization privatization: see nationalization. privatization Transfer of government services or assets to the private sector. State-owned assets may be sold to private owners, or statutory restrictions on competition between privately and publicly owned of the water supply in Argentina by a French-owned company, reports Hilary, led to a rate increase of 100 percent. In the Czech Republic Czech Republic, Czech Česká Republika (2005 est. pop. 10,241,000), republic, 29,677 sq mi (78,864 sq km), central Europe. It is bordered by Slovakia on the east, Austria on the south, Germany on the west, and Poland on the north. , privatization increased tariffs by 100 percent between 1994 and 1997. Despite justified opposition to water privatization, proposes for public-private partnerships Public-private partnership (PPP) describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies. These schemes are sometimes referred to as PPP or P3. in water supply and management are likely to become more numerous in the future. The independent Pacific Institute has developed 13 principles for analyzing the risks and benefits of the new water economy. Mark Twain reportedly said, "Whiskey whiskey [from the Gaelic for "water of life"], spirituous liquor distilled from a fermented mash of grains, usually rye, barley, oats, wheat, or corn. Inferior whiskeys are made from potatoes, beets, and other roots. is for drinking; water is for fighting over." Well, the fight is on. Thirteen Principles for navigating the new water economy 1. Access to sufficient water is an inviolable human right that should be guaranteed under any privatization agreement. 2. The water supply for natural ecosystems must be protected and that protection enforced by government oversight. 3. The basic water requirement for users should be provided at subsidized sub·si·dize tr.v. sub·si·dized, sub·si·diz·ing, sub·si·diz·es 1. To assist or support with a subsidy. 2. To secure the assistance of by granting a subsidy. rates for the poor. 4. Water and water services should be provided at fair and reasonable rates designed to encourage efficient and effective water use. 5. Rate increases should be linked with agreed-upon improvements in service. 6. Water subsidies should be economically and socially sound--encouraging efficient water use and subject to regular public review. 7. Private companies should focus on improvements in water conservation and efficient use before they are permitted to raise water rates to pay for new water-supply projects. 8. Governments must retain or establish public ownership or control of water sources to ensure that the "social good" dimensions of water are fully protected. 9. Government agencies or public watchdogs--not private water suppliers--should, define, monitor, and enforce water quality laws. 10. Public-private contracts must explicitly ensure the quality of service and a regulatory regime that is transparent, accessible, and accountable to the public. 11. Practical dispute-resolution procedures that build upon local practices and are free of corruption should be specified clearly in any public-private contract. 12. Independent technical assistance and contract review should be standard prior to the acceptance of any public-private agreement to make sure all language is clear and all systems are applicable. 13. Public advisory committees should be established to represent community needs and values, promote public education, and facilitate public review of contracts prior to signing privatization agreements. Source: "The New Economy of Water: The Risks and Benefits of Globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation and Privatization of Fresh Water" The Pacific Institute, 2002). |
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