La nova «guerra de l’aigua» a Barcelona: austeritat, deute i participació privada

Hug March

doi:10.5565/rev/dag.140

The new “water war” in Barcelona: austerity, debt and private participation

Authors

Hug March Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

PDF (CA)

Abstract

This paper introduces the most recent developments in the metropolitan and regional reconfiguration of the water cycle in Barcelona: the lease of the raw water supplier Aigües Ter-Llobregat and the creation of the mixed-capital metropolitan firm Aigües de Barcelona, Empresa Metropolitana de Gestió del Cicle Integral de l’Aigua, S.A. In a context of economic crisis, both changes took place against the backdrop of austerity and privatization policies, which have been justified by the rocketing debt of the Catalan administration. The debt of the Catalan Water Agency can be better understood if we take into account the rescaling of environmental policies to the European level and the inadequate water financing model at a regional level. Beyond those reconfigurations I highlight other spheres of the water cycle that are beginning to attract the interest of private capital, such as smart management. Finally, we critically reflect upon the impact that those changes may have on the citizens as well as on the environment.

Keywords

urban water cycle, privatization, rescaling, economic crisis, governance

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