Below are some political, legal, civil society, and economic measures – to prevent water from being declared a commodity.
In the UN Resolution of 2010, water was recognized as a human right. This Resolution must be incorporated into national constitutions and legislation and defended against lobbying.
Germany still has many municipal water providers. These should be legally protected against takeovers or partial privatization – as Uruguay has, for example, enshrined in its constitution.
In many countries, corporations can pump enormous quantities of water with minimal fees. This must be regulated through statutory maximum amounts, environmental impact assessments, and local participation.
In Berlin (2013), a public referendum succeeded in achieving the return of the partially privatized water supply. Such direct democracy instruments must be used more frequently and with binding force.
Corporations such as Nestlé operate through think tanks, NGOs, and political networks (like the WEF). These connections should be disclosed and critically monitored – for instance through NGO research, watchdogs, and investigative media.
Instead of profit maximization by private actors: promotion of citizen cooperatives and public providers that manage water as a common good.
When communities become more independent from the central water market (e.g., through cisterns, decentralized treatment systems, water cycles), they weaken their dependence on large suppliers.
Already in schools, media, and NGOs, the principle "Water is life, not a business" should be consistently represented and explained. This promotes long-term resilience against neoliberal narratives.
Financial, legal, and media support for indigenous and rural communities (e.g., in Canada, Peru, or South Africa) that stand against water extraction by large corporations.
💧everything about clean, toxin- and pollutant-free water
The human right to water and sanitation :