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Deborah James. Sovereign Decision for Water in Uruguay: More than 60% Said Yes, Nov. 2, 2004, available at http://www.indymedia.ie/ newswire.php?story_id=67283 (last visited Nov. 28, 2004). 
Para el Poder Ejecutivo la Reforma del Agua es Retroactive, El Pais, Nov. 11, 2004, available at http://www.elpais.com.uy (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).Ejecutivo Decidió que Deben Caer las Concesiones de Agua, El Pais, Nov. 12, 2004, available at http://www.elpais.com.uy (last visited Nov. 28, 2004). Id. Id. OSE Asegura Provision del Servicio de Agua en Lugar de los Privados, El Pais, Nov. 11, 2004, available at http://www.elpais.com.uy (last visited Nov. 28, 2004). Id. Supra note 1. See Connie Watson, CBC News, Sell the Rain: How the Privatization of Water Caused the Riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia (Feb. 4, 2003), available at http://www.cbc.ca/news/features/water/bolivia.html (last visited Nov. 28, 2004). Id. 11 Id. 12 Katherine Stecher, Nicaragua Network, Citizens Stand for Water (2004), available at http://www.nicanet.org/global/citizens-stand-forwater.php (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
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On October 31, 2004, more than sixty percent of the Uruguayan people voted to amend their constitution and make water a human right - a decision that guarantees public management of water services for Uruguay in the future.[1] Further, the executive branch determined that the constitutional amendment would be retroactive, that all current water companies in Uruguay are no longer legally authorized to do business in the country,[2] and that an "orderly, fast, and fluid" retreat of the water companies would be organized.[3]
At least twelve companies in Uruguay will be affected by the water plebiscite.[4] The State Sanitary Works ("OSE") will take over the provision of water services[5] and announced that it is prepared to be responsible for the 60,000 households that will now require service.[6]
The referendum to make water a constitutional right was promoted by a coalition of social and political organizations calling themselves the National Commission in Defense of Water and Life ("CNDAV"), united under their opposition to water in Uruguay.[7] Reasons for opposition included unaffordable, low quality services that were burdensome on the state economy, and environmental harms caused by the private companies.[8]
Civil society opposition to water privatization is common throughout Latin America. The most famous incident of civil society resistance to water privatization is the Cochabamba, Bolivia case. In that instance, a water company partly owned by the multinational corporation Bechtel took over water services in Cochabamba in late 1999.[9] Water bills rose sky-high and in April, Bolivians began to riot in the streets.[10] After eight days, the government announced that the water company had fled the country, and water services had returned to the control of the government.[11]
Other countries in Latin America face similar conflicts over the privatization of water services. Nicaragua will soon decide whether or not to accept 13.9 billion dollars from the Inter-American Development bank for the privatization of their water services. Non-governmental organizations are proposing a bill for Nicaragua that, like the recent decision in Uruguay, recognizes water as a human right and emphasizes the necessity for low-cost access to water.[12]
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ENDNOTES:
[1] Deborah James. Sovereign Decision for Water in Uruguay: More than 60% Said Yes, Nov. 2, 2004, available at http://www.indymedia.ie/ newswire.php?story_id=67283 (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
[2]Para el Poder Ejecutivo la Reforma del Agua es Retroactive, El Pais, Nov. 11, 2004, available at http://www.elpais.com.uy (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
[3]Ejecutivo Decidió que Deben Caer las Concesiones de Agua, El Pais, Nov. 12, 2004, available at http://www.elpais.com.uy (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] OSE Asegura Provision del Servicio de Agua en Lugar de los Privados, El Pais, Nov. 11, 2004, available at http://www.elpais.com.uy (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
[7] Id.
[8] Supra note 1.
[9] See Connie Watson, CBC News, Sell the Rain: How the Privatization of Water Caused the Riots in Cochabamba, Bolivia (Feb. 4, 2003), available at http://www.cbc.ca/news/features/water/bolivia.html (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
[10] Id. 11 Id. 12 Katherine Stecher, Nicaragua Network, Citizens Stand for Water (2004), available at http://www.nicanet.org/global/citizens-stand-forwater.php (last visited Nov. 28, 2004).
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