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incomes soar, no effort has been spared in maximising revenues. In one instance, a water company began billing a rural resident who was serviced by a well. The company argued that the rain falling on the resident's property was making its way into the storm drainage system and therefore the resident should pay a fee.* allotment of 4.4 million acre feet per year. Without the deal, California would have faced potentially costly litigation by the other six states in the river basin: Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. To increase water availability in the next 15 years, regional authorities will consider steps such as desalinating seawater and transferring water from elsewhere in California and out of the = Canada state. Water is becoming a commodity to be traded and sold. Pressures within Canada to privatise control of municipal water © WORLD WATER NIGHTMARE, 2001-2025 services and treat water resources as an export commodity are In the year 2025, we look back to see what happened after increasing. French and British companies are vying with water became a commodity and to study the effect of hydrodollars American firms to control Canada's water services. on the new economy. Instead of a world of prosperity and plenty, Many municipalities have entered into "partnerships" with pri- we see a World Water Nightmare. vate organisations. Moncton, for example, has By 2025, the global trade in illegal water has entered into a 20-year agreement that will see become rife. The number of deaths from pol- the city's water filtration plant maintained and luted and black market water is on the operated privately. The company, US Filter, In France, private increase. Another class of water pollutants is will build the plant and sell it to the city upon . running rife: residues of pharmaceutical drugs completion, in exchange for a guarantee that it companies have been given to people and domestic animals. They will have exclusive rights to sell Moncton its prosecuted for are being measured in increasing quantities in drinking water. The company has sought sta- surface water, in groundwater and in drinking tus as a municipality for tax purposes, arguing providing water that's water at the tap. that it should be exempt from GST. polluted and unfit Frans Nloping world, mincus have died France to drink. decimated the Middle East, China and parts of In France, private companies have been the USA. Vast tracts of farmland have prosecuted for providing water that's pol- 7 . become wasteland, handed over to the luted and unfit to drink. A French French cities with corporations which control the expansive Government report revealed more than H allotments where our food is grown. 5.2 million citizens received "bacterially private water charge The commodification of water did not unacceptable" water. Corruption is also 30 per cent more than create "sustainable agriculture" or help cities with public rampant, with water-related bribery the environment. The world has almost schemes resulting in convictions of collapsed from soil acidity. municipal officials and water company water. Biotechnology, the science that promise: board members under investigation. food, health and hope for the world, has French cities with private water charge 30 betrayed its proponents. In 2025, we see per cent more than cities with public the results of genetically engineering water. In France as well as Germany and crops to be less thirsty and more produc- the Czech Republic, municipalities guar- tive. The great famines which the worl antee payments to companies if consumption or prices are not suf- is currently experiencing are a direct result of monoculture based ficient to ensure a profit.” upon genetically engineered seed stocks. The price of food is out of reach of many urban dwellers. At first, they turned to home - USA gardening—before it was declared illegal. Now they have no In the past five years, privatisation of water utilities in the US choice but to contribute to the cost of their food and water in kin has expanded. The major utilities, Consumers Water Co., through their toil. Or die. The life sciences have become the Dominguez Services, Southwest Water, Connecticut Water and death sciences. E'Town Corp have seen returns of more than 20 per cent for If only we had taken action when these plans were first investors. revealed. If only our protests had not fallen on deaf ears. If only In February 2001, US Water News Online” reported a move our governments had challenged the statements made at the towards the concept of "zero depletion" for water in the state of | World Water Forum 2000. Instead, they acquiesced to the plans, Kansas. Governor Bill Graves's proposal entails having a "zero sending their ministers, advisers, bureaucrats and scientists to take depletion" policy in place for Kansas aquifers by 2020. It would part. The very future of humanity on Earth has been gravely mandate that the water taken from an aquifer over a certain period imperilled by greedy, dishonest, power-hungry politicians and of time not exceed the rate at which the water is recharged. A corporations. They have succeeded in reducing every component task force on water issues that Graves appointed as part of his of Nature to an economic commodity. They have abrogated the "Vision 21st Century Initiative" advocated a zero depletion ethics and spirit of life preservation and replaced them with the policy. values of corporate consumerism. California will receive surplus water from states in the The commodification of water... Genetic engineering and Colorado River basin under a deal signed recently that commits patenting of traditional seed stock... Control water, control food, the state to improving its water conservation efforts. o to Oo The accord control people... A truly dark age is upon us. oo state. to drink. water. - USA In the past five years, privatisation of water utilities in the US has expanded. The major utilities, Consumers Water Co., Dominguez Services, Southwest Water, Connecticut Water and E'Town Corp have seen returns of more than 20 per cent for investors. In February 2001, US Water News Online” reported a move towards the concept of "zero depletion" for water in the state of Kan. Governor Bill Graves's proposal entails having a "zero depletion" policy in place for Kansas aquifers by 2020. It would mandate that the water taken from an aquifer over a certain period of time not exceed the rate at which the water is recharged. A task force on water issues that Graves appointed as part of his "Vision 21st Century Initiative" advocated a zero depletion policy. California will receive surplus water from states in the Colorado River basin under a deal signed recently that commits the state to improving its water conservation efforts. The accord commits California to reducing its reliance on Colorado River water over the next 15 years, with the goal of reaching its 30 + NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2001 French cities with Continued on page 81 www.nexusmagazine.com