For instance, in Santiago and London, RWE, a German company, now determines not only who obtains water but also the price and the quality of water. Efforts to privatise water supply in Switzerland reflect the liberalisation that has taken place in the market for electric power. But what may be true for electricity is not true for water. Privatisation will turn a public monopoly into a private monopoly, with the result that a vital resource will become a tradable commodity. Water that should be available to everyone will become a source of income for a small minority.
Water supply is currently in the hands of local communities and community associations.
These structures have stood the test of time. They provide for democratic participation and control by local populations while also guaranteeing quality and ensuring supply. Water is irreplaceable. It is a monopoly of nature. Water has always been and will continue to be unique.