Companies proclaim water the next oil in a rush to turn resources into profit

The Guardian

This summer, however, myriad business forces are combining to remind us that fresh water isn’t necessarily or automatically a free resource. It could all too easily end up becoming just another economic commodity.

At the forefront of this firestorm is Peter Brabeck, chairman and former CEO of Nestle.

In his view, citizens don’t have an automatic right to more than the water they require for mere “survival”, unless they can afford to pay for it. For context, the World Health Organization sets such “survival” consumption levels at a minimum of 20 liters a day for basic hygiene and food hygiene – higher, if you add laundry and bathing. If you’re reading this in the United States, the odds are that flushing your toilet consumes 50 liters of water a day.

Brabeck is right to argue that we risk depleting the world’s supply of fresh water irresponsibly through careless and thoughtless consumption of an apparently free resource. How many lush golf courses should we be sustaining with millions of gallons of water in parts of the world that are naturally arid, like Arizona or southern California?

I've written on this subject before but we seem to be getting closer to the time that this nightmare turns into reality. Of course water isn't and shouldn't be free unless you live near a clean water source... it costs money to maintain and pump water to billions of people, but under no circumstance should water be entirely privatized and entered into the commodities market.

Is there anything more Oligarchic? "Lord Nestle, I haven't been able to wash my clothes or body in months... I beg you for some charity". Please let us wake up before this happens. Water is a human right.

a reply to: Kali74

This must never happen

a reply to: Kali74
its already privatized,I get a water bill each month! and bottled water is as expensive as gasoline! and the water used on golf course's in AZ? its called effluent,basically waste water without the smell....don't drink it!

This whole thing has been bothering me for a while. Here in MI, the great and powerful Nestle has it's claws dug in. I don't understand why we let them pump water from the aquifer, and then charge us to drink it.

The general public really thought this was a great idea?

And just how long is that water source going to last?

So glad we have a well.

a reply to: Kali74

"Lord Nestle"

Now that was a brilliant quote!

The elite have been positioning themselves for this for awhile. The Bushes, T. Boone Pickens etc etc.......
It's not an "IF" but a "WHEN".

So water doesn't belong to the public, we have to pay for it, but it apparently belongs to the owners of these companies who want to charge us for it? When did a public resource become their private property to charge the rest of us for?
We have the same problem down here in Florida. Public water is being pumped out, and sold around the world by Zypherhills Water, while the rest of the public has strict limits, and pays high costs for water.

a reply to: Kali74

this has always been the best doom porn for me...because we already see the laws coming into play that don't allow you to collect your own water. We have the technology to beat this for sure....but itll be expensive..and to make sure we don't just go harvest our own water they will pass laws that make us buy theirs. Sometimes I think fracking played a part of this...they knew it would destroy what little fresh water is left...

Who's this ass to say how much fresh water we should have when corporations use rivers and lakes for sewers to dump their pollutants in? Arrogance at it's finest.

a reply to: blkcwbyhat

That would municipalized. It costs your city/town money to keep your water clean and pumping ready to use anytime you want it. Your city/town government can be re-elected or not. A company with land and water deeds cannot be voted out.

a reply to: rockpaperhammock

In some places it makes sense to not allow rain water collection but not all, if too many people collect rainwater it affects the water tables of the area and can have negative effect such as less evaporation, less rain. There are those newly discovered fresh water "oceans" way down below the surface. Let Nestle spend it's own capital and get some of that, leave the rest of us the hell alone.

How long then before showers are a communal thing?

You'll pay an entry fee of about £3 and only get 3 minutes as that water is precious.

a reply to: Kali74

I must confess, that if it were up to me, I would just outright kill ANYONE suggesting, or supporting the idea that water should be monetised for profit. It must be made so clear at the first raising of this topic, that the cost of water, is the blood of those who would dare to make a profit on it, and that no other option is available. Death is the crop whose seeds are sown by such a hateful idea.

It is perhaps fortunate, that I am not the leader of the human race, because so many of the horrors it inflicts upon itself by such means would cease, bloodily. I cannot honestly say however, that even with a freak like me running the place, that it could be any bloody worse than it is at the moment!

a reply to: TrueBrit

Unfortunately what you propose is already happening in reverse. Anyone who interferes with the exploiters ability to make money is killed or destroyed. Thus in order to live a decent life one must join them rather than fight against them. Truly a sad state of affairs with a likely worse ending. Once enough people are left with nothing to live for, it will end.

These corporations have a lot of power to buy congressmen. Look at what happened with oil prices once they started speculating. Now putting water in the private sector will mean that corners will be cut to increase profits...from private individuals. Businesses will get a break and of course, the biggest businesses will clump together in their organizations to control all the people. These businesses are trying to become entities, like gods to the rest of us.

Certain groups of individuals control out governments, it is not one person or one small group. It is a monster of it's own creation. A mindset of the people that want to control the rest of society.

Although I do not always consider this bad, I do see that in this case it is not good. Some corporations are good and have the best interest of our country and people in mind, but they are sometimes misled by their desire to make money for their corporate leaders and look good to their stockholders. The thing is that these corporations use too much risk and listen to the wrong people which can cause consequences that are very bad for the people of this country.

a reply to: Kali74

I heard this character is looking for a source of natural lithium water. I have a friend with a whole lake, spring fed through lithium, zinc and calcium veins. I'd never give up that location. It has more than double the lithium content of Lithia Springs water, is naturally a high pH and the mud/silt is incredible for rashes/skin problems.

Cheers - Dave

No need to worry guys, for I have seen the future, and water is eventually replaced by Brawndo, The Thirst Mutilator. It's got electrolytes! IT'S GOT WHAT PLANTS CRAVE.



In all seriousness though - out of the myriad of environmental problems we stand to face in the coming decades, it seems that the water crisis is often the most understated, and it sometimes makes me wonder why.

Corporations are usually eager little beavers to downplay and deny every other environmental issue we have going on out there, but on this it's like they're just waiting with quiet anticipation for a brand new market to open up.

Good thread.

a reply to: Kali74

never said the municipality shouldn't get paid for the service.But when the companies take city tap water and bottle it,then charge outlandish prices for it,thats almost a crime!Granted,they bottle and ship it,and a profit,but really?Say a 16 oz bottle is a dollar....how many gallons of city water can you get for a dollar? Its all advertising and convienience for the mass population...maybe some stupidity too.

a reply to: Kali74

Old news I know - and it's amazing how many Americans strongly, firmly believe that water is in fact, a commodity - NOT a basic human right.

Keep up the good fight.


F&S&

a reply to: Kali74
S&F Kali

If people are still on the fence and won't take the word of science about the evidence for climate change - they only need to look around a little to see how seriously profiteers are taking it

originally posted by: Joneselius
How long then before showers are a communal thing?

You'll pay an entry fee of about £3 and only get 3 minutes as that water is precious.

Is that even a real problem? Baths are communal in other parts of the world (like Japan). They also have them in jail as well in military training. Is it really that big of a deal to bathe with other people? I dunno as someone who was in the army and had to take communal showers while in Basic Training, this seems like the LEAST of my worries when it comes to the depleting fresh water sources. I can think of some more dire consequences than this.