About the Book

Privatization of water supplies began in England in 1989 under Margaret Thatcher; in the next 10 years, nearly £10 billion went in profits to the new water companies. Today, two giant corporations, Veolia and Suez, control 80% of the international private water market and have some 300 million customers. Protests have broken out in country after country - Bolivia, Argentina, Ghana, South Africa - and the water giants are switching to new markets in China, North America and Europe. Meanwhile well over a billion people still lack access to clean water supplies. This book tells the graphic story behind these facts and figures. Drawing on her own interviews with the poor, the experts and the corporate executives in Latin America, Africa and Europe, the author bring us a story much more complicated that simply public or private provision, or innovative mixes of the two. The ultimate question is this: is water a human right or just another tradable commodity?

Commendations

"There is a vital role for private expertise and resources in providing water services. Unfortunately, if that role is forced down the throats of the potential beneficiaries, they often choke." - Mike Muller, Director General, Department of Water Affairs, South Africa

"Ann-Christin‘s book is an important contribution to the debate about water privatisation, which remains mired in controversy. She tackles the major issues and interviews many of the key players. Ms. Holland‘s book is essential reading for all, especially policy makers." - David Boys, Public Services International

"This book combines clear language with a deep understanding of the processes of water privatisation. Ann-Cristin Sjölander Holland has done a great job." - David Hall, Business School, University of Greenwich

'The book is a revelation of the business of water...Anyone interested in the water business should read and digest what the author has to say.' - Appropriate Technology

Contents

Part 1: When Water Becomes a Global Commodity
1. Mountain Water: A Commodity for Saudi Businessmen
2. England and Wales: Where It All Began
3. Two Global Giants
4. The Water War in Cochabamba
5. Tucumán, Argentina: A Storm of Protest
6. Among Poor People in Rosario and Buenos Aires
7. The Privatization Flagship is Sinking
8. South Africa: Shezi Stole Water
Part 2: Private Alternatives: For and Against
9. Companies and their Strategies
10. The World Bank Promotes Private Solutions
11. Ghana faces Public Private Partnerships
12. Kenya: Twenty Children Wait for a Well
13. The Global Water Club
14. Suez and Veolia: We Do Not Intend to Take Any Risks!
15. The Protest Movement
16. Local Authorities Not Ripe For Managing the Process
17. ‘Our Goal: Good Public Options‘
18. ‘Too Much Secrecy Around GATS‘
19. An Inexhaustible Source of Information
20. Public-Public Partnerships
21. Other Voices and Opinions
Part 3: How Water Privatisation Effects People in the Rich Countries
22. Europe: A Growing Market?
23. Back to England and Wales
Part 4: People and Corporations
24. Why Care?
25. A Revealing Stakeholder Report
26. Water: An Unlimited Fountain of Engagement

About the Author

Ann-Christin Sjolander Holland is a prize-winning Swedish journalist, now working for Kommunalarbetaren, the biggest trade union magazine in Sweden. In recent years, she has specialized in writing articles about how privatization affects employees and the different ways in which commercial companies now operate within the public sector. In researching this book, she traveled extensively in Latin America, Africa and Europe.