Sound off with Sasha -- Water Privatization

Friday 4/22/11 @ noon on 90.1

The passage of the US Federal Government’s Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Act in the 1970’s provided funding to municipalities for maintaining high standards and inexpensive access to fresh water. – But in the following decades the government has been cutting back funding and some communities accepted offers of help from private companies.

Since 2008 however, caught in the economic downturn and budget shortfalls a growing number of municipalities have considered selling their water utilities, in order to generate revenues.

But at what cost to the consumer? Can sales result in increased rates and lower quality?

In the late 1990’s Enron subsidiary, Azurix, referring to Florida as “liquid assets”, tried to buy the right to Florida’s water…

Will another corporation try again and make us an offer?