3.4 - Bolivia - Privatisation or Public Water Systems

Question 1

How much % of the world get ‘private’ water? What is this percentage expected to rise to by 2015?

Answer 1

7% - Expected to rise to 17% by 2015

Question 2

Which scheme in Bolivia pushed the government to provide public water?

Answer 2

Cochamamba, 1999 - Government took over in 2000

Question 3

Which river does Bolivia plan to pump water from? How much is this going to cost?

Answer 3

Misicuni - Cost: $450 million

Question 4

What is the name of the city’s recently privatised

water company? How much did water prices go up by due to this change?

Answer 4

Aguas del Tunari - Water bills went up by 35% on average and some by twice

Question 5

Private systems provided how much coverage?

Answer 5

100% (but only 20% could afford it, cost: $450/month)

Question 6

Public systems provided how much coverage?

Answer 6

45%

Question 7

The World Bank would give money to Bolivia on what condition?

Answer 7

If water is privatised

Question 8

What % of people started to dig their own wells?

Answer 8

55%

Question 9

Why can poor governments be inefficient to deal with water access?

Answer 9

Often too plagued by local corruption and too ill equipped to run public water systems efficiently

Question 10

If TNCs handle water, water is now described as what?

Answer 10

A commodity - Water is far too important to human health and environment to be placed entirely in private hands