Water Commoditization: Global Water Crisis

In absence of water, life ceases to exist. Water is our most valuable resource and is something that we as humans should treasure. An issue currently facing the global population is the depletion and exploitation of the world’s water resources. Currently, large global health inequity results from the fact that water is seen around the world as a commodity. Instead, water really should be viewed as a human right. Presently, water is considered by large companies as a means of making a profit. “Blue Gold” is a movie that explains the phenomena of privatization of water, and the negative impact or expense it has on countries involved.

Being young and naïve, it is easy to think about water as being free and in abundance for everyone, everywhere. Leaving the faucet on when brushing your teeth or the hose running to play in the water for hours are things that aren’t always thought about. After learning about the source of water, it becomes more apparent that water is not in fact free, and though it is easily accessible in flourishing countries, it is denied to many around the world. In the developed world, even if water is not available in your home, it can be within reach and readily available by going to a public restroom or using water from a neighbor’s house. Simultaneously in other parts of the world water is made unavailable and expensive, this is a way that large companies profit. They distance themselves from the fact that taking water from a country means that you are depriving them of the most important resource they need to survive. Developing countries that cannot afford the cost of water go without it, and most of the time this is where available water is most crucial to health and survival.

Commoditized sources of water are not a new concept. Historically, the Roman Empire can attribute the majority of its demise to poor utilization of natural capital.  Rome relied heavily on outside sources for its water supply and constructed large aqueducts that devastated the surrounding area.  History, as it often does, repeats itself in modern cities as well. Los Angeles is an example of a modern city that has poorly utilized its water resources. In 1905, construction of the Owens Aqueduct began, which devastated the once fertile Owens Valley.  The aqueduct was built and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and was viewed as a great feat for the city of Los Angeles.  Little did residents of LA know the devastating effect it had on the Owens Valley.  The Owens Valley was once a small farming community but has now become a barren desert-like region, frequently experiencing large dust storms. Manipulating water flow for personal gain and profit can in turn deplete fertile soil and wipe out entire populations of plant life and vegetation. As a result of the dry soil and exhausted aquifer water supply, over the long-term the earth’s crust can crumple, foundations can collapse, and towns can start to sink.

Along with Nestle, a key player in the depletion of water resources is a control company by the name of Suez, which is discussed within the film to have privatized water in Atlanta, Georgia. In Atlanta, almost immediately after privatization, the water became undrinkable unless it was boiled. Another compelling example of water privatization took place in Grenoble, France. French land was able to stay out of the public water market until the mayor at the time was bribed into privatizing their water, although the public water system was already working quite well. Selling their rights to their water led to higher cost accompanied by poor quality water within the country.

We can continue to see examples of the negative impact of the water crisis throughout Oaxaca, Mexico. At first glance, it can be observed that it is a state laden with poverty, and it is visibly one of the poorest states in Mexico. The people of Oaxaca face far from desirable living conditions. Amongst most concern is poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water. Running water of any kind is hard to come by in this region. Another factor that is puzzling is that Coke in a glass bottle costs less than water in a plastic one. Trucks that drive by every so often are the only solid opportunity the community has of obtaining clean water for drinking, bathing and other forms of survival. The vehicles that distribute water, typically sell five-gallon bottles for about $1.60. Most of the time this doesn’t come easy for those residing in rural impoverished communities. If residents aren’t home or don’t have money on the day the truck comes, they don’t receive water. For many people around the world, like our neighbors in Oaxaca, getting water becomes a daily pursuit. Yet meanwhile, in other places across the globe, there are no five-gallon bottles for sale, and clean water is taken for granted, and is more easily accessible depending on where you live, which is a major health inequity. Oftentimes the people most in need turn to polluted sources, instead of spending money they don’t have. They can’t afford to spend money on clean water. This can result in the spread of a variety of waterborne diseases such as, polio, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and cholera. Water disease is globally accountable for more deaths than malaria.

 

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A more hopeful and recent case of the general public committing itself to taking back their water rights is apparent in Bolivia. Here, it came down to either paying for water or going thirsty. People were even prohibited from gathering rainwater. Because they were unable to afford the cost of water they formed a resistance. It was not an easy battle, with hundreds of people getting shot and wounded, or even resulting in fatality. Many were also detained. Eventually though, they earned what they fought hard for and kicked the privatization company out of their country, gaining back the rights to their own water resources. 

Another connection that can be drawn from the topic of water control and the global water crisis is the way that it interacts with what we discussed in class about the O’odham tribe. The removal of their water source was in large part a result of the Coolidge dam; this was an upstream cause of health inequity that ultimately led them to experience health issues such as diabetes, in part due to their inability to grow the crops and food they needed for survival.

In order for the human race to prosper we need to discontinue these practices.  Instead of altering the environment to meet our needs and wants, we need to successfully adapt to our host environment and adopt more sustainable practices. Collectively, the globe should come together and realize that the water crisis and exhaustion of water resources is about saving the environment as well as saving ourselves. It is about equity for all, not about profit. Diversion of water at the expense of others, especially in areas of poverty, puts those in most need most at risk and denies them the means for survival. It is very compelling, and unjust, that companies are denying people something so essential to human life and at the same time placing the ability to live amongst those who are more financially fortunate.

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Five Fifteen

Group Blog Post

December 4, 2013