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Is Water the Next Oil?

Layout article by ldsudduth on 26 December 2007, tagged as water, drought, utilities, profit, municipal, business, and economy

Access to clean, safe drinking water is something everyone in the world needs. While commonly provided by government entities, private corporation players - who stand to make large profits - are increasing in number on the Water Industry scene.

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It Could Work with Oversight by gnifyus :: NR7

Should we trust clean, safe water will continue to be readily available?

It is always a distinct possibility that moving water management over to a strictly capitalist system might actually improve things when an individual company's survival depends on good service. There does need to be some sort of backup system though, because if a water management company suddenly goes out of business for whatever reason, millions are suddenly without a safe source of this basic need. A municipal oversight, monitoring and testing system would also have to be in place to try and ensure public safety with that second set of eyes. The question is; who is monitoring the municipalities in regards to safety right now?

As a side note, look what Orange County, CA is doing to create more drinking water from their sewage. Here's a funny op-ed piece by Joel Stein on the subject.

Posted 28 December 2007, Hide, Reply
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This can get scary by NomadSoul :: NR5

While I think in developed nations, public-private partnerships might work, in the developing world it may turn into an all out war over water rights. The key example is what happened in Bolivia (YouTube Video) when the country's water utility was privatized by Bechtel.

Posted 06 February 2008, Hide, Reply