Friday, August 26, 2005

FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - The private sector can get water flowing to the poor

An argument for private involvement in water distribution in poor countries from the Financial Times (subscription required)...

FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - The private sector can get water flowing to the poor : "Worldwide, 1.1bn people, mainly in poor countries, do not have access to clean, safe water. The shortage of water helps to perpetuate poverty, disease and early death. However, there is no shortage of water, at least not globally. We use a mere 8 per cent of the water available for human consumption. Instead, bad policies are the main problem. Even Cherrapunji, India, the wettest place on earth, suffers from recurrent water shortages.

Ninety-seven per cent of all water distribution in poor countries is managed by the public sector, which is largely responsible for more than a billion people being without water. Some governments of impoverished nations have turned to business for help, usually with good results."

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