Bakker, K. J. (2010). Privatizing water: governance failure and the world’s urban water crisis. Ithaca, N.Y., USA, Cornell University Press. xvi, 303 p. : 13 tab., 6 charts/graphs, 3 maps, 3 line drawings
ISBN 978-0-8014-4723-5
Price: US$ 24.95 paper, US$ 65.00 cloth
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Water supply privatization was emblematic of the neoliberal turn in development policy in the 1990s. Proponents argued that the private sector could provide better services at lower costs than governments; opponents questioned the risks involved in delegating control over a life-sustaining resource to for-profit companies. Private-sector activity was most concentrated—and contested—in large cities in developing countries, where the widespread lack of access to networked water supplies was characterized as a global crisis.
In Privatizing Water, Karen Bakker focuses on three questions: Why did privatization emerge as a preferred alternative for managing urban water supply? Can privatization fulfill its proponents’ expectations, particularly with respect to water supply to the urban poor? And, given the apparent shortcomings of both privatization and conventional approaches to government provision, what are the alternatives?
In answering these questions, Bakker engages with broader debates over the role of the private sector in development, the role of urban communities in the provision of “public” services, and the governance of public goods. She introduces the concept of “governance failure” as a means of exploring the limitations facing both private companies and governments. Critically examining a range of issues—including the transnational struggle over the human right to water, the “commons” as a water-supply-management strategy, and the environmental dimensions of water privatization—Privatizing Water is a balanced exploration of a critical issue that affects billions of people around the world. [publisher's text]
The author Dr. Karen Bakker is the Director of the Program on Water Governance, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia, Canada
More than private vis public it follows the line of political choices.
In Alberta, more strident a more strident right wing Government, they have totally privatized all of our water like a creeping malaise.
Huge water allotments have been given to the petroleum industry; far in excess of what they require. Now, they are encouraged to sell these same surpluses they got free to Communities who need water. Prices are running into the millions.
Meanwhile, the Ground water having been fully mapped over time is still kept a secret by the Government. They are lining up insiders to export our ground water also.
The Conservatives had a fully engineered project put up in the 80s by Weatherford Company. The so called Weatherford project is designed to move two-thirds of the flow of the Peace River into the US! This project is complete with 8 lift stations, each one using the power of a city.
The Federal Conservatives New Act by: Lawrence Cannon – Min of Foreign Affairs – Trans boundary Waters Protection Act – May 13, 2010 puts all the water into one bucket so to speak and gives Government controls for taxation while turning the determination as to whether or not to export over to the Provinces.
I have been following their antics for years see http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2010/12/canada-is-under-seige-from-within.html In the top left corner search Water and you will find it interesting including copies of the allotments.