The World Bank has been the engine behind this corporate takeover of water systems and services. The World Bank shapes how, from whom and on what terms people in developing countries receive their water—by investing $2 billion annually, and by influencing the policies of other international financial institutions.

Although it has shifted its rhetoric in recent years, the World Bank continues to press its privatization agenda:

• By requiring countries to privatize water systems as a condition for receiving loans;
• By advocating for water governance structures that favor large corporate users over individuals and communities;
• By directly financing water giants like Suez, Veolia, Bechtel and Biwater;
• By forcing municipal systems to adopt commercial approaches to water rates and service provision.

The stated mission of the World Bank is to alleviate poverty. Yet corporate control of water has proven a dangerous policy—in economic, social and environmental terms. There is much evidence that private sector involvement in water services delivery has failed to improve poor people’s access to water or save governments money. What’s more, it often leads to price hikes, reduced access, service cut-offs, loss of local jobs, contract renegotiations and broken promises for service delivery and network expansion.

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