Alternatives to the privatisation of water and sanitation services: Lessons from Latin America

Abstract

This chapter offers a much-needed discussion on alternatives to privatisation, drawing on experiences from Latin America. While there is widespread agreement that privatisation is not the answer to the historic problems that have plagued the water and sanitation sector, alternatives to privatisation are diverse ranging from state- to community-led initiatives. Focusing on case studies from Bolivia, Uruguay and Venezuela, I argue that there is no one-size-fits-all model and solutions to local water problems must be grounded in concrete realities and be appropriate to local contexts.