The business of water Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The business of water - Essay Example This paper illustrates that since water companies began to be privatised, there has been an ongoing debate from both the political and social circles regarding the sustainability of private water companies. The debate has brought together political movements, labour movements and major corporations with each side having a conflicting opinion regarding privatising water services. There is a common pattern in developed countries regarding the improvement of water and sanitation services. In many countries across the world, water provision services began as early as the 17th century. However, such services were only used by people of a higher social class and state departments such as the fire brigades. The subsequent development of urban centres saw an influx of people towards cities thus creating a water crisis. Water ceased to become an incentive but a requirement for almost every household in the urban areas. Despite the fact that the previous water and sanitation services were oper ated by private entities, municipalities and urban councils took over the provision of water services to address the rising acute water shortage. France, however, maintained the status quo and private water companies continued to operate independently which explains why the largest water companies in the world are France’s Suez and Veolia. Those in support of municipalities taking over water and sanitation services argued that the state bodies had the ability to address the inefficiencies in water provision by private contractors.