Water as a Public or Private Good: The Future of Water in Portugal

Abstract

Water is one of the most valuable assets on the planet. Each day, this resource’s economic value increases geometrically, but its availability at the same time decreases. Nowadays, access to drinking water connotes economic, environmental and social costs. In response, to the growth of private sector involvement in water supply management globally, anti-privatization campaigns for human rights to water have emerged in recent years. The privatization of water services is one of the most controversial issues in freshwater management at the international level. This paper attempts to analyze the public and private goods provided by water Management. The authors argue that the regional natural and socioeconomic characteristics of Portugal call for a new differentiated approach in dealing with water resources.