Sorry, This Water Is Private...

Much has been said about the drought here in the High Country, and the impact that rapid development has had on the ability of local municipalities to provide water. In this election season, water has become a huge local political issue as well.

While these discussions are important, there is another side of the issue that you probably won't hear about in the mainstream media here in the High Country: Water Privatization.

Most of us would consider the access to clean water to be a basic human right. But these days, we seem to constantly hear how all of our problems would be solved if we would just privatize everything and get rid of government "interference." Indeed, private water companies are popping up all over the U.S., including North Carolina. Cash strapped local governments seem focused only on the short-term windfall they stand to make by selling off their water systems.

Strangely enough though, once these private water corporations come to town, they seem to have a problem sharing.

While it is understandable that a local government may want to rid itself of the hassle and expense of owning and maintaining a water system--not to mention the pressure that governments must feel from local citizens demanding that they cut costs, no matter what the outcome--local governments need to understand that water privatization is not a panacea.

In Barnstead, New Hampshire locals passed a law prohibiting corporations from mining the town's water supply--as in taking the town's water and selling it elsewhere--which was essentially sucking the town's water supply dry.

So, let's try to think long term here. That soggy private sector white knight is just a mirage. Our water supply should not be sold to the highest bidder.