Suffering from a long history of fractioned water provision, in February 2015, the government proposed the privatization of the water supply in Mexico. The bill’s fate still remains uncertain but the public has been adamantly opposed.

Currently, over five million Mexicans are without adequate access to clean water. The idea is that the private sector will be able to supply water to more people with more efficiency and less cost. The proposition also includes a sanitary aspect, claiming that by outsourcing the water supply, the water will be cleaner and therefore safer to drink.

The problems with Mexico’s water supply are internationally known. The economic boom and mass migration to cities, Mexico City in particular, strained all infrastructures, including that of water systems. The systems in place for water deliverance could not support the massive population explosion experienced in the mid to late 1900s. Quick fixes made to the water systems contribute to the widespread problems faced today. The water supplies are inconsistent and inefficient, with many of the mains leaking about 800 gallons into the ground per second. However, the water that does reach the city is generally guaranteed to be contaminated. Mexico City sees the most gastrointestinal diseases stemming from water consumption in the world.

Across the entire country, upwards of 70 percent of all water bodies are contaminated, which has made the water bottle industry a booming business in Mexico. Many Mexicans rely on the private sector already for water consumption. However, for the extremely poor, they remain anxious about affording and having access to water if the privatization goes through. Furthermore, the privatization movement is largely focused on improving water supplies of municipal resources, not for the millions of people who do not have access to municipal resources. The poorest of Mexico’s poor could face additional barriers to accessing clean water.

The privatization of the water sector poses further risks of decreased investment in infrastructure, overexploitation, lack of government responsibility, raised prices and increased pollution. There are also concerns over the connection between the recent trends in fracking in Mexico, which uses about two to ten million gallons of water per operation to pump water into the ground for oil extraction. The privatization poses serious risks that could exacerbate current problems with water deliverance and availability in Mexico.

However, the debate over the movement has shown the world Mexico’s fighting spirit and an increased incidence of political activism and open discussion, both cornerstones for change and democratic development. A series of protests and marches have proven largely effective in informing politicians and the public alike of the serious implications privatization could have.

– Emma Dowd

Sources: Foreign Policy, Isla Urbana
Photo: Flickr