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Groundwater is being depleted on a large scale in many arid and
semi-arid parts of the world. It is often said that this precious
resource is being wasted at the expense of future generations. But
should ground-water depletion be avoided at any price? Or is
depletion desirable in certain circumstances? If there is to be a
reduction in groundwater depletion, how can it be achieved? And how
can limited water resources be allocated to their most valuable
uses?
This book reveals all that can potentially happen when a private
company takes over a local water supply system, both the good and
the bad. Backed by real life stories of water privatization in
action, author Manuel Schiffler presents a nuanced picture free of
spin or fear mongering. Inside, readers will find a detailed
analysis of the multiple forms of water privatization, from the
outright sale of companies to various forms of public-private
partnerships. After covering their respective strengths and
weaknesses, it then compares them to purely publicly managed water
utilities. The book examines the privatization and the public
management of water and sewer utilities in twelve countries: the
United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the
Philippines, Cambodia, Egypt, Jordan, Uganda, Bolivia, Argentina
and Cuba. Readers will come to understand how and why some
utilities failed while others succeeded, including some that
substantially increased access, became more efficient and improved
service quality even in the poorest countries of the world. It is
natural that a private company taking over a local water supply
system causes both fear and worry for consumers. With the aid of
solid empirical evidence, this book argues that who manages the
system is only half the story. Rather, it is the corporate culture
of the utilities and the political culture of where they operate
that more often than not determines performance and how well a
community is served.
This book reveals all that can potentially happen when a private
company takes over a local water supply system, both the good and
the bad. Backed by real life stories of water privatization in
action, author Manuel Schiffler presents a nuanced picture free of
spin or fear mongering. Inside, readers will find a detailed
analysis of the multiple forms of water privatization, from the
outright sale of companies to various forms of public-private
partnerships. After covering their respective strengths and
weaknesses, it then compares them to purely publicly managed water
utilities. The book examines the privatization and the public
management of water and sewer utilities in twelve countries: the
United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the
Philippines, Cambodia, Egypt, Jordan, Uganda, Bolivia, Argentina
and Cuba. Readers will come to understand how and why some
utilities failed while others succeeded, including some that
substantially increased access, became more efficient and improved
service quality even in the poorest countries of the world. It is
natural that a private company taking over a local water supply
system causes both fear and worry for consumers. With the aid of
solid empirical evidence, this book argues that who manages the
system is only half the story. Rather, it is the corporate culture
of the utilities and the political culture of where they operate
that more often than not determines performance and how well a
community is served.
The fonner Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and
fonner UN Secre tary General, Butros Butros Ghali stated after the
second Gulf War "The next war in the Middle East will not be fought
for oil, but for water. " This famous statement has been echoed by
many politicians: shortly before be coming president of Turkey,
SOleyman Demirel declared that the waters of the Euphrates and
Tigris belonged to Turkey, just as oil belongs to the Arabs. Rafael
Eytan, at that time and now again Israeli Minister of Agriculture,
declared in 1990 in full-page advertisements in the Jerusalem Post
that Israel would never cede the West Bank to the Palestinians
because Israel's water supply would otherwise be endangered.
Finally, Ismail Serageldin, vice president of the World Bank,
declared in 1995 that "the wars of the next century will be over
water." These statements are typical of the atmosphere reigning in
the Middle East and in several other places around the world
concerning the issue of international fresh water resources.
Whether these perceptions correspond to an actual threat to a
nation's water supply or whether they correspond to the official
position of states in negotiations often conducted secretly, is an
entirely different matter. A closer analysis of the issue of
international fresh water resources, as we attempt in this book,
admittedly reveals a dangerous potential for conflict over water."
The fonner Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and
fonner UN Secre tary General, Butros Butros Ghali stated after the
second Gulf War "The next war in the Middle East will not be fought
for oil, but for water. " This famous statement has been echoed by
many politicians: shortly before be coming president of Turkey,
SOleyman Demirel declared that the waters of the Euphrates and
Tigris belonged to Turkey, just as oil belongs to the Arabs. Rafael
Eytan, at that time and now again Israeli Minister of Agriculture,
declared in 1990 in full-page advertisements in the Jerusalem Post
that Israel would never cede the West Bank to the Palestinians
because Israel's water supply would otherwise be endangered.
Finally, Ismail Serageldin, vice president of the World Bank,
declared in 1995 that "the wars of the next century will be over
water." These statements are typical of the atmosphere reigning in
the Middle East and in several other places around the world
concerning the issue of international fresh water resources.
Whether these perceptions correspond to an actual threat to a
nation's water supply or whether they correspond to the official
position of states in negotiations often conducted secretly, is an
entirely different matter. A closer analysis of the issue of
international fresh water resources, as we attempt in this book,
admittedly reveals a dangerous potential for conflict over water."
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