Water: right to profit?

Many say that the next global war will be fought not over oil but over water. And if the latest world conference on Water hosted by the World Water Forum (WWF) in Istanbul this past year, the 'war' is starting with a battle between the 'rights' approach which holds nations accountable for securing water and the profit approach which suggests businesses should try to go where governments have failed to lead.

Coming from California, the potential of water wars is no new news. Nor is the threat of privatization. My cousin's town of Stockton, a hot place in the middle of some of the best agricultural land in the world, was one of the first to have privatized water. But though her experience is largely benign, I remain skeptical about the basic necessity of life being turned into a mere commodity, subject to the whims of the restless market.

In Istanbul, the official documents did not attempt to bridge the gulf between water as right or as a commodity? Many say access to safe water and sanitation is a basic human right. Right now, over one billion people don't have that right. And there are businesses out there trying to support that - and make a profit.

With climate change, there is little doubt that water will continue to be one of the biggest and most contentious issues on the global platform. Should business step in and see if it can provide this essential service better than government? Is public-private partnership the way to go? Or should national government (often rife with corruption) get their acts together and provide people with the basic services they need?