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It Could Work with Oversight

Comment comment by gnifyus on 28 December 2007

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.

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RE: It Could Work with Oversight by ldsudduth :: NR6

Municipalites are monitored by the DEP in most, if not all states with regard to water quality--as are corporations. BUT--there is nothing that says either must provide water to those unable to pay the bill. With regard to quality of water--take a close look at what happened in Atlanta with United Water and the quality of water there when it was under the control of a private entity. When the economy of Argentina collapsed, millions of residents were cut off for non-payment of bills and the water source polluted because the corporation couldn't afford to treat the water. The question remains: will clean, safe water be readily available?

As a side note, I just received my current issue of PA Angler and Boater. The directors editorial was about this very issue--with direct reference to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I wish they had the issue posted online---they don't yet. I would love to link to his editorial; it sums up the problems quite nicely. Everything from Nitrates (fertilizer) to hormones and antibiotics are part of the watershed, because the treatment processes don't address these well enough. Nitrates are reduced at the Water Treatment level, but the others aren't even tested for. Fluoride levels are rising as well--again because it's not removed in the treatment process.

Posted 28 December 2007, Hide, Parent, Reply