American "success stories"

For a better future of water and sanitation in Americas, five countries present their solutions. Each of them with their own convictions.

Which legislative framework? Which public/private funding? Which power devolution? Representatives from Mexico, Honduras, Equator, Brazil and the United States debated these issues. The roundtable dedicated to the American continent was organised with the intention to propose "already experimented Solutions that could be implemented in different countries" declares Rodrigo Rollemberg, Senator and President of the Commission on the Environment of Brazil.

As an example, in order to fight against pollution in waterways, Brazil promotes its national policy for solid wastes which forbids surface garbage. Before its enforcement, garbage was directly dumped near the rivers. Victor Lippi, mayor of Socoraba in Brazil, insists on the importance of establishing action plans to help municipalities focusing on priorities and actions to implement for their sanitation projects. "Government's participation is essential as municipalities do not have the necessary financial and technical means", he says. Like Rollemberg, Lippi underlines the necessity to create water agencies covering the territories of the river basins.

PPPs and grassroots action at the heart of the debate

In Mexico, river basin management is also encouraged. Since its creation in 2006, the Apatlaco River Basin Commission has improved the ecological conditions in the zone. Eleven wastewater treatment plants have also been constructed with a 12^th to be inaugurated on 16 March . To ensure their proper long term working, Fernando Maira, representative of the Morelos State, Mexico insists on the need for technical monitoring and recommends delegating this mission to the private sector, in order to ensure. Marlo Lara, parliamentarian from the National Congress of Honduras, agrees with the need for laws concerning public-private partnerships.

Evelyn Pamela Falconi, representative for Equator argues, on the contrary, that "banning the privatisation of water and giving back power to the populations will be the only way to ensure the right to water for all".

Empowering citizens remains the main objective of Senator Karen Fraser from the State of Washington, USA. "Empowering local authorities" is the solution she promotes to ensure access to water and a good resource management.

Back to list

Category: News in brief