In an earlier post, I discussed the errors contained in certain criticisms of the proposed California water bond to be voted on in November 2010. Those criticisms were centered on the provision that allowed investor-owned public water utilities to receive bond funding for projects to benefit their customers, who make up 20 percent of all Californians. Critics asserted (incorrectly) [...]
Archive for January, 2010
More Mythical “Privatization” in the California Water Bond
Posted in California, Privatization, Water markets/transfers, Water rights on January 30, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Water in the New Kenyan Constitution
Posted in Human right to water on January 19, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The east African nation of Kenya is currently in the process of considering a new constitution, and one issue is the inclusion of a right to water. A harmonised draft constitution was prepared by a Committee of Experts and released for public comment on 17 November 2009, and it included a provision on water in Chapter 6, the Bill of [...]
Water Signs
Posted in Water signs on January 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Here is a sign of increased public knowledge of water issues, from the small coastal town of Cambria, CA. Cambria has experienced water shortages in recent years, leading it to consider building a desalination plant. The photo was taken today.
The California Water Bond, Private Profit and Public Benefit
Posted in Economics of water, Private v. public, Privatization, Public utilities regulation on January 4, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Several commentators have recently criticized the proposed California water bond for allowing private companies to own, operate and profit from water infrastructure paid for with bond proceeds. These criticisms have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and California Progress Report, and have been repeated in a number of other publications. The $11.14 billion water bond [...]
