From the Blue Community tni – Transnational Institute:
Writings on water democracy. Public policies and community water management in Latin America.
Latin America has a rich history of community water management practices. These water services are democratically designed and delivered in ways that preserve local ecosystems and meet all needs. Despite waves of historic and ongoing political challenges to these structures, community water and sanitation organizations remain a viable and growing solution.
For many, it seems obvious that water is a common good. Yet the struggles highlighted in this article demonstrate that without persistent organizing to have that right recognized, while at the same time delivering water services independently, the legislative wins across Latin America in recent decades would never have been achieved.
This article highlights local but federated water practices from across Latin America, their ongoing legal struggles, and the ways in which public–community collaborations can further strengthen these initiatives.
