Stockton, Calif stops a water takeover attempt

[donsu]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3282/a_win_in_the_water_war/


A Win in the Water War
Stockton, Calif., residents have stopped one multinational company from taking over their water system, but other localities remain threatened


-snip-

But Lokyo and the group Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton (CCOS) felt compelled to challenge a rushed deal that turned the city’s publicly owned water system into a for-profit venture. This month, their perseverance paid off when the city finally sent privatization packing.

-snip-

More than 80 percent of Americans fill their glasses with water owned and managed by public utilities—a market for growth that has CEOs rubbing their hands. Across the United States, multinational corporations are swooping into towns and cities with promises of a more efficient and economical water system if they would just turn over their taps.

But for many municipalities, it is a raw deal. Privatization often results in exorbitant water rates, poor service, little accountability, a disregard for public safety and destruction of the environment. City officials in Atlanta, for instance, cancelled their contract with Suez four years into privatizing their water system after residents experienced routine boil orders, water shortages and rate hikes.

-snip-

Two hours from Stockton, residents in Felton, Calif., have been trying to pry their pipes out of a corporation’s grip since 2002. Cal-Am, owned by the multinational giant RWE, raised water rates by 44 percent and is pushing for another increase that would raise rates by a total of over 100 percent.

-snip-

The Bad News Paragraph

But public control of water isn’t problem-free. Public utilities are struggling financially to maintain and modernize water systems, and water infrastructure is deteriorating across the nation. A 2005 report card issued by the American Society for Engineers gave the United States a “D-” for drinking water infrastructure, warning, “America faces a shortfall of $11 billion annually to replace aging facilities and comply with safe drinking water regulations.” An estimate by the coalition Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) puts the funding shortfall at $23 billion per year.

-snip-

Above all, Lokyo says, the “minute” your community hears murmurs of privatization, “you have to start getting organized, and figure out if it’s in your city’s best interest. If it’s not in your city’s best interest, than you fight it. And you just keep fighting and fighting until you win.”
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who controls your drinking water?

[peacetalksforall]

1. I was expecting to hear Bechtel. If you don't know - Bolivians kicked

them out - the people of Bolivia had to pay Bechtel for their water - litre by litre and more. Enter Bechtel and Bolivia in a search engine.

I can't believe anyone would name their company Suez? Phonetically, it sounds exactly the way I pronounce the first part of sewer. What's that name all about?

It is damn foolish to sell out to a corporation - everyone knows why Republicans want their friends in there - think Kenny boy Lay, Skilling, et al? I would only trust Ben and Jerry. Maybe not even them - Republicans would write some law that certain Dems join in on that would allow hostile takeover with some new fancy name - some friend of Carlyle.

[peacetalksforall]

2. What is the cost of the 'Republican lie-war' in death, maiming, and out-of-pocket costs

compared to upgrading our nation's water?

"The EPA estimates that $150 billion will be needed over the next 20 years to upgrade our nation's drinking water infrastructure and that in California, we will need $15 to $20 billion. State water experts think it will be much more, in the $30 to $40 billion range."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/11/INGBJ7I02E1.DTL (good article by a guy that knows what he's talking about)