Privatization of Water
Natural resources are becoming more valuable as their availability continues to dwindle. The war to own everything on the planet does not stop with oil. Although fossil fuels and natural gasses are essential to modern day life, water is still the most important resource when it comes to basic survival. As our needs as a civilization have evolved, so have our systems of obtaining water. Irrigation systems and water treatment plants have both matured in order to provide us with water when and where we need it. The value of water has become apparent to private interests who believe they could better serve the community than a local municipality. Private companies have been able to arrange contracts with local governments to handle an area’s water supply. The ability of a company to own a public resource has been the root of some controversy, including what is eligible to be privatized. This dilemma is complex due to its potential effect on political, economic, and environmental systems.
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