Liquidity: Privatization and the Rise of Big Water - The Ripple Effect: The Fate of Freshwater in the Twenty-First Century - page 238

Argentina, Cambodia, the Philippines, Guinea, and Gabon as places where privatized
water systems had helped to save “many lives … [and] there are millions more to be
saved.”
A growing number of water experts believe that privatization is not a zero-sum equa-
tion. Some, such as Peter Gleick and Dr. Michael Campana , a professor of geosciences
at Oregon State University, argue that a compromise would guarantee people enough
free water—say, fifty liters (about thirteen gallons) per person, per day—to ensure sur-
vival. Beyond that, public or private suppliers could charge for water use, perhaps with
tiered rates so that the heaviest users bear the greatest burden. This formula could be
an effective middle path, so long as clear ground rules are set and oversight is rigorous.
The devil, of course, is in the details. But if such a system is not instituted soon, then the
hard facts of life may assert themselves.
“The idea that water can be sold for private gain is still considered unconscionable by
many,” James M. Olson , a leading American water-law expert, said. “But the scarcity of
water, and the extraordinary profits that can be made, may overwhelm ordinary public
sensibilities.”