SECTION 2 - Examples of Materials
Ask participants, what parts of the water and sewage system might be privatized? Refer to the flowchart of the water system and note parts of the system - both infrastructure and labour - that might be privatized. Discuss the reasons why municipal governments might want to give over responsibility to private corporations. Identify possible conflicts between the public need for universal, safe public water service and the profit motive of private corporations.
Distribute handout # 5 - Bottled Water. Look at the photo and read the caption. Ask participants, what do you know about Walkerton? what has bottled water got to do with events in Walkerton? Write contaminated water on the flipchart.
Ask, How many of you drink bottled water? Why? Has the consumption of bottled water been affected by the Walkerton crisis? How do you know? Have participants share experiences and observations.
Ask, who profits from this situation? Who pays?
Distribute handout # 6 - Bottled water no safer than tap water, says Health Canada. Read the article to find answers to the following questions:
Where does bottled mineral or spring water come from? where do other bottled waters come from? what is the difference between tap water and bottled water when it comes to water safety?
Note that bottled water is controlled by the canadian Food and Drugs Act that requires regular testing for quality. Tap water is also safe when testing is controlled by government regulations. Deregulation and privatization take testing and safety out of public control. This situation jeopardizes the safety of tap water and creates increased consumer demand for bottled water.