Local elected representatives resolutely oppose liberalisation of the water market

The German rapporteur Peter Torkler condemned the municipalities in need of money which delegate their water management to large enterprises with scant regard for sustainable development of this resource, essential to human development. He expressed indignation at the fact that all too often the profits made from the supply of water accrue to private enterprises while the burden of costs falls on the local communities.

Many speakers in turn adverted to the major issue of availability and management of drinking water. “A mere quarter of the world’s population has access to drinking water,” Wolfgang Kelsh pointed out, predicting that access to water would decide whether peace or war prevailed in the future.

The resolution adopted stresses the need to pursue a pricing policy ensuring access of all users to clean water at a reasonable cost, and invites local leaders to support sustainable development objectives for water supply as a public service of universal interest. Several speakers were in favour of entrusting its management to semi-public companies or municipal water boards. According to one German representative, the existence of small water authorities controlling a rational network is also an effective means of combating the significant wastage that typifies the large distribution networks over which major enterprises often hold sway.

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