Bolivia
Privatising water Water is a valuable commodity, and its supply
can make large profits for the companies controlling it.
In 1999,
the World Bank refused any further credit to the public water company,
and instead pressurised the Bolivian government into privatising
its water company.
At the same time, it also advised against giving
any subsidies to avoid steep price rises in supplies to the people.
Once the company was sold off, this is exactly what happened,
with some people facing rises of over $20 a month. 
Impact on the people The terms of the concession sold by the government
meant that local people could no longer collect rain water in wells
and roof tanks, without paying for it.
At the same time, the water
supply was sometimes intermittent, and some people were only able
to obtain running water for two hours a day.
Not everyone was willing
to accept this situation. In Cochabamba, the people decided to
fight back and led a campaign to regain control of their water
supply.
Impact on the people The terms of the concession sold by the government
meant that local people could no longer collect rain water in wells
and roof tanks, without paying for it.
At the same time, the water
supply was sometimes intermittent, and some people were only able
to obtain running water for two hours a day.
Not everyone was willing
to accept this situation. In Cochabamba, the people decided to
fight back and led a campaign to regain control of their water
supply.
Government response This campaign was to involve thousands of local
people, from all ages and backgrounds.
They organised themselves
into La Coordinadora - The Co-ordination for the Defence of Water
and Life - and together manned barricades and led demonstrations.
The government responded with teargas and military units.
Following
the death of a 17 year old boy and several other shootings, the
private water company left the country and the government started
to negotiate.
The private contract was broken, and the water returned to the
control of the people.
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