Water: Bolivia

Question 1

Water privatisation

Answer 1

In 1999, Agua del Tnari took over the Bolivian city of Cochabamba’s water system, claiming rights even to rainwater and monopolising the water demand. The company immediately raised the price of water supplies so that they cost 20% of the average income of Cochabamba’s urban poor. People protested for 4 days and the Bolivian government cancelled the contract.