International

This week I paid a visit to a gathering of a large number of drinking water supply companies and district water boards, united in the Union of Water Companies in the Netherlands, known by the Dutch acronym VEWIN. The meeting reminded me forcefully that if it were up to the SP we would not do the same with drinking water, the management and delivery of which remains in public ownership, as was done with our electricity supply: no sell off of our water! Everyone at the meeting was in enthusiastic agreement, so now we can only hope that the European Commission sees things the same way.

Dutch drinking water suppliers, all of which remain in public ownership, are worried about Brussels. In some member states of the European Union drinking water supply is among the many sectors which have been privatised. The alleged advantages for the consumer have failed to materialise, but that's no surprise when you consider that postal tariffs, for example, have not been reduced in the wake of liberalisation. In England and Wales, where drinking water has been privatised, the consumer now pays far more than was the case under public ownership. The explanation given was that pipes had to be comprehensively renewed, but does that really account for the increase in costs?

More important still is that wholesome drinking water is of vital importance to public health, which means that you can't afford to take any risks with it. Any temporary interruption in supply, such as has happened far more often after privatisation than it did before, is irritating enough, but you should not have to fear that you will have to go without water, or that its quality will in one way or another become unreliable. In such matters the authorities should take no risks.

This year the European Commission will bring forward proposals expanding upon the idea of 'services of general (economic) interest’, which includes the supply of drinking water. The Commission's proposals are needed, because this concept made its appearance with the Lisbon Treaty. The formulations in the Treaty are vague: you can take them to mean that privatisation of such services isn't necessary, but this is far from being completely clear. Along with VEWIN I will therefore being keeping a close eye on this: Commission, keep your hands off our drinking water!