Call for a demonstration for the 25th day in defense of public water management
- The Onura Público initiative, set up in Urretxu and Zumarraga, has called for next day 25 a demonstration in defense of public water management. In defense of public water management. The demonstration will start at 18:30 hours from Areizaga-Kalebarren Square in Bilbao.
Since 2007, the municipalities of Urretxu and Zumarraga have awarded water supply and sanitation management to private companies through a competition. Aquarbe, a subsidiary of multinational Suez. He has denounced that the only Gipuzkoan municipalities that have water management in private hands are those of Urretxu and Zumarraga. “The management of water in the hands of a private company is a social injustice, because it involves commodification of the water that is everybody’s. And water is a human right. Furthermore, this decision has directly harmed the citizens of Euskal Herria. The neighbours of Zumarraga and Urretxu have higher prices than the rest of the citizens of Gipuzkoa, have suffered an increase in tariffs (especially the most vulnerable) and as consumers and citizens our rights have been violated.”
The contracts of the municipalities of Zumarraga and Urretxu with Aquarbe end on 31 December 2021. “This is a very important, decisive moment. Municipal officials must decide whether to continue to do business with water and remain the most expensive in Gipuzkoa, or to undertake public, close and transparent management. Prioritise the profits of a company or ensure the well-being of citizens.”
According to the information of Public Utility, municipalities, if they are willing to terminate the contract, must inform the company of their intention to terminate the contract a few months before the conclusion of the contract (six in the case of Urretxu and four in the case of Zumarraga). “If they do nothing, it will be extended directly and we will continue with injustice. In other words, if municipalities do nothing about this, the profits of a private company will continue at the expense of zumárragos and urretxuarras. The extension of the contract is a decision of the municipalities, as this year the contract ends, so the extension will set out its intention to continue with injustice, spurring and privatization.”
They say it's time to end "injustice." “Now is the time, now we have an amazing opportunity to stop this injustice of years. The final decision is made by two municipalities, but it is also up to the citizens to promote public water management by both municipalities. Now we have the opportunity for the water to return to its course.” That is why the urretxuarras and zumarraga have been invited to participate in the demonstration called for tomorrow.
