Water Privatization In Latin America

We, American citizens, consider ourselves lucky; not for our address but for water equality. Anyone can have water due to its accessibility and affordability in our country. Sadly, in Latin America it’s a different story. Water isn’t affordable due to water privatization. The government isn’t doing anything productive to help out citizens obtain this important resource, and often times water is contaminated with parasites and bacteria. The government passes on the responsibilities of water works to private companies, companies then demand a large amount of money to give water to citizens. Those who have the luxury to pay for water aren’t affected by this trade. Unlike those who live in slums or earn less than minimum wage, they are greatly

Raising the prices of water may sound terrifying but often times it’s helpful. The price hike has the possibility of helping more people obtain potable water, put politicians are afraid to make this move because they may lose votes. Often times, “political leaders know it can cost them votes. So, often, they don’t increase prices and don’t expand service or fix broken pipes and pumps” (Treaster 4). In this case, popularity seems more beneficial than the access of water to a community that needs water. Leaders know a sudden price hike can be unwelcoming, but if it’s a step in the right direction, it’s a risk worth taking. Improvements are necessary and often times new political leaders are necessary as well. Political leaders don’t want to take the risk of a price hike nor do they want to solve the water works system. Politicians may believe that it isn’t their problem to fix water sanitation and accessibility. They believe that their job to is not to get involved with the water problems that Latin Americans are facing. Instead, “political leaders apparently see more benefit in cutting ribbons at opening ceremonies for new hospitals than in dealing with the less glamorous business of removing bacteria and parasites from drinking water” (Treaster 4). Politicians think they are a part of the solution if they cut a ribbon at a new hospital, but opening a hospital isn’t good

Many people in Latin America do have access to water, undrinkable water, to be precise. Yet, many people still drink this water without knowingly the health risks that come along with it. About every year, those who suffer from “water-borne diseases take up about half of all the hospital beds in the world” (Treaster 1). The water sanitation problem is not solved. Each time someone goes to drink water, depending on who they are, they risk the chance of drinking water that may or may not have parasites and/bacteria. If all of Latin America acknowledged this problem, including the government and the private companies, everyone would have potable