Shiny false solutions Commodification of water The solution predicated by some governments and the corporate power in international platforms such as the World Water Forum and Rio +20 is to commodify water. A fresh water market controlled by financial institutions and managed by private companies will solve the conflict of competing interest over access to water by increasing the price of water as high as there are enough customers willing to pay; meaning water for the highest bidder.
fresh mountain water
privatization
Apart from magnifying the already existing social inequalities, commodifying water will not regulate excessive use and pollution from activities with the greatest water and carbon footprint. Economic activities such as oil extraction, mining, dams construction, and farming industry will not be affected by an increase on water prices. Privatization of water services There is enormous pressure from international financial institutions and corporate lobbyist to privatize water services because water is scarce and water consumption needs to decrease. Under the name of efficiency and cost-recovery, water will be denied to those who can’t afford it. It is ludicrous to address the water crisis by tackling household consumption, when agriculture and industry account for more than 90% of total water use, a far greater water footprint.