Privatization of Water Stirs Up Fears, but Keeps Taps Running

Control over the world's increasingly scarce water comes with great power, but also great responsibility

A worker at the Suez Alpena wastewater treatment facility in Alpena, Mich., in this file photo. COURTESY OF SUEZ

Water flows through powerful hands before it trickles down to those least able to afford it. Multinational corporations are increasingly gaining control of water infrastructure and, essentially, of the vital resource itself.

While these companies do provide much-needed infrastructure repair and develop water-saving technologies, some are accused of profiteering.

Water investments are lucrative for companies, due to unwavering demand for the increasingly scarce resource. As private investment in water grows, so do fears that market influences—rather than basic human needs—will guide water management.

The top view of a sedimentation tank in this file photo. As clean water becomes more scarce, companies are seeing opportunity. W.TAB/SHUTTERSTOCK