Faulty pipes
Mayors from around the U.S. are just finishing up with their annual conference in Las Vegas. Water was on the agenda this year – the mayors passed a resolution that recognized aging water infrastructure as a primary concern and demanded that Congress increase funds allocated to state improvements of these systems.
So, Water for All thought it would be good time to reassure the mayors that this was a smart move. Today we released a new report that documents some of the problems that communities face when their water has been privatized. Faulty Pipes is a series of case studies and analysis that shows what happens to cities and towns when their water system is taken over by a corporation. Among the most frequent complaints: higher rates, poor customer service, and a lack of accountability (meaning, when customers call to complain, no one’s listening).
We think the best way to keep communities’ drinking water in top shape is to create a national water trust fund, similar to the trust funds that are established for our roads, airports, and social security. Congress even created a fund to help the Butterfly Weed! But apparently, our lawmakers don’t think water is as high of a priority. Let’s hope they start listening to the American public soon because 86 percent of us think that we should be publicly financing our water systems. Safe, affordable, and accessible drinking water is important everywhere.
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