Private water operators' contribution to realising the right to water

Abstract

The Lancet Editorial (Dec 10, p 2838)1LancetDangerous disregard for the right to water.Lancet. 2016; 388: 2838Google Scholar rightly highlights the dangerous disregard for the right to water (and sanitation) and the health implications of this. However, the Editorial greatly underestimates the importance worldwide and draws on misinformation to reach incorrect conclusions. In 2010–11, the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council finally decreed the dual human rights to safe access to drinking water and sanitation. These rights give clear guidance to states about what has to be done to comply. Water has to meet the criteria of availability, quality (ie, water must be safe for consumption and other uses, and not threaten human health), acceptability, accessibility, and affordability,2UN General AssemblyReport of the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Catarina de Albuquerque. A/HCR/18/33.www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/18session/A-HRC-18-33_en.pdfDate: July 4, 2011Google Scholar and be delivered with equity and non-discrimination. Today, it is estimated that about 40% of the world's population (approximately 3·5 billion people) do not have access to water and sanitation that comply with these criteria and therefore do not enjoy the fulfilment of their rights. The results in terms of mortality and morbidity are terrifying. The deaths, disabilities, absence of education, and economic loss due to the disregard of these essential necessities by states are inexcusable. The cases the Editorial cites from the USA illustrate this. The serious level of underinvestment in water systems and their poor operation and maintenance are failures of the public sector organisations that bear these responsibilities. Yes, the rights to water and sanitation are dangerously disregarded. The specialist private water operators that my organisation, AquaFed, represents have been stressing this for years. We have been actively and positively engaged with the UN to provide practical input to their work in defining and promoting these rights.3AquaFedGlobal issues.http://www.aquafed.org/WaterIssues/Entry/item/global-issues--4.slsGoogle Scholar We have called for the European Union to recognise these rights in the European Union Charter.4AquaFedAquaFed calls upon the EU to be more active in implementing the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation.http://www.aquafed.org/Public/Files/__Uploads/files/2014-02-17_AquaFed_ECI_Right2Water_PR_EN_Pc.pdfDate: Feb 17, 2014Google Scholar We highlighted the issue again on World Human Rights Day 2016.5AquaFedAquaFed stands up for human rights every day.http://www.aquafed.org/News/Entry/item/aquafed-stands-up-for-human-rights---every-day--27.slsDate: Dec 10, 2016Google Scholar Private water operators contribute to delivery of reliable and compliant water and sanitation services to more than 1 billion people every day. They are agents for the realisation of the human rights to water and sanitation that act on behalf of public authorities and under their control. They do not own or commodify the water they deliver. They go beyond recognising the right to water—they help the public authorities responsible make it a reality for the people they serve. In this respect, your Editorial is completely misleading. Your statement that “Privatising water supplies shifts the power from people to corporations, and cannot ensure safe, clean, accessible, and affordable water supply” is completely unfounded and untrue. Additionally, it is unhelpful to all those waiting to have their human right to water and sanitation fulfilled. Involving the private sector can help them. I declare no competing interests. Dangerous disregard for the right to waterOn this year's Human Rights Day, Dec 10, current events in the USA suggest that a key human right is being dangerously disregarded. Access to water is an indispensable part of life, health, and dignity. In 2010, the UN General Assembly recognised the human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation; the US has yet to agree and ratify this view. Full-Text PDF