Water privatization schemes throughout the world have a track record of skyrocketing prices, water quality problems, deteriorating service and a loss of local control.
Privatization advocates argue – usually without any supporting evidence – that switching from publicly owned and operated utilities to private sector firms will lead to greater economic efficiency, stabilized rates, reduced public debt and improved budgetary management.
In reality, privatization more often than not fulfills none of these promises, and instead creates a number of new problems. Vulnerable to corruption and operating according to a profit-driven corporate agenda fundamentally incompatible with delivering an essential service, private water companies are failing to provide citizens with safe, affordable water. Private corporations seek to increase profit margins by cutting costs; hence privatization is almost always accompanied by lay-offs.
Turning Up the Tap: How the Private Water Industry Wants to Boost Profits – At the Expense of Taxpayers (pdf)
Activists’ Guide to Fight Water Privatization
This is an introductory guide to being a water privatization organizer in your community. We hope you find this guide to be a useful learning tool as well as a helpful resource for information on the water industry. To make this guide easy to navigate, we have divided it into sections. Please keep in mind that Public Citizen’s Water For All team is always available to help you build your own campaign. Please email us or call us at 202-588-1000 and ask to speak with someone on the Water For All campaign.
- Water privatization backgrounder
- The 10 reasons to oppose water privatization
- The privatization model
- The water corporations
- How international financial organizations promote water privatization – and how new global trade talks threaten municipal water services in the U.S.
- Water privatization around the world
This is the how-to section of the water activist guide. Public Citizen’s Water for All Campaign is always available to assist you in starting your own campaign in your home town. We can help you with media strategy, contacting the right government officials at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as suggesting creative ways to draw attention to your struggle. We can also provide research, background information, and reports – ALL FOR FREE – to build your case against a particular water company or privatization bid.
- Introduction – what can you do
- How to give an effective presentation
- How to submit a letter to the editor
- How to do a media interview
- How to contact government officials
- Meeting with public officials
- Draft Resolution for City Councils
Full comprehensive guide: Citizen’s Guide to Water Privatization (pdf) 
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/Water/activist/
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The PPJ Gazette 