Fun Fact

Water is our common heritage, a vital resource and a right for everyone. However, we are witnessing the gradual privatisation of water. For many, water is not a universal good, but an economic good, a product subject to the financial interests of the market. This approach calls into question our relationship with this resource, while its pollution is a public health problem. Around a hundred rivers in the world are contaminated and their self-regeneration is no longer respected. The consequences of the commodification of water could be that agriculture would have to adapt to speculative water prices, like oil. Another result could be that the commodification of water will lead to the extinction of species.

Call to Action

Many consumer products and by-products end up in waterways, often adversely affecting flora and fauna. Many of these effects are hormonal in nature. These endocrine disruptors come from our contraceptive methods, insecticides, and paints. Little is known about their long-term effects on humans, but the stakes are no less high. Some of these harmful products have been banned in most countries, such as DDT, but others are still used in industry or by private individuals. It's up to each one of us to avoid contaminating wastewater with potentially harmful chemicals by disposing of them properly, while at the same time learning about the composition of the products we use every day, including gardening products, cosmetics, detergents, and paints, among many others.

Riddle

In Chile, approximately how many percent of drinking water and wastewater services are managed by private companies?

A) 2% The state controls

B) 20% Same as the world average

C) 50% Some small lakes are privately owned - after all, who wouldn't want their own lake?

D) 90% I hope they don't raise the price of water too much, just so we can still drink.