Aguas de
Barcelona in Mexico; water not drinkable, expensive and only for a few
In
The User's Association of Aguas de Saltillo (AUAS) is following the activities of the company
and has found that in some of the water sources that supply the city with
drinking water, the levels of arsenic exceed the allowed maximum.
In fact, the company has not even obtained the sanitary certificate for
drinking water required by the Health Secretary. Of the 46 parameters of water
quality which have to be verified for this certificate, Aguas
de Saltillo verifies only total and faecal coliform bacteria, as well as free residual chlorine. At he
same time, AUAS confirms that Aguas de Saltillo is over-exploiting the aquifers for its supply.
AUAS is also denouncing unjustified price increases: for example, between May
2002 and August 2004, the prices increased by approximately 68%, while the
National Consumer Price index increased only 10,67% in
the same period.
Aguas de Saltillo has
ignored resolutions of the City Council, requiring the company to lower service
fees. Following this, a group of users presented a collective complained before
the Federal Administration for Consumer Protection (PROFECO) in November 2004. The
complaint was ruled in favour of the users on
This case illustrates how often the juridical systems installed to protect
company rights violate human rights. In this sense, the case is presented
before the PPT.
Key issues: Privatization of Public Services and violation of
fundamental rights
Denouncing organizations: Asociación de Usuarios