Veolia and FCC violate human right to access to water in Colombia

Under the name PROACTIVA Medio Ambiente, the spanish company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) and the french Veolia Environmental have taken advantage of the privatization of public services such as water, sanitary services and waste management in the Colombian Carribean, thereby violating the human right to access to water of a large part of the local population.

In Colombia, PROACTIVA reflects the two sides of water privatization in the country: on the one side, the privatization of water sources via the concession of the Tibitoc plant near the capital Bogota, and on the other side the privatization in terms of management as is the case in the cities of Monteria and Tunja, the San Andres Achipel, and the municipality of Tocancipa in the Department of Cundinamarca.

Both the national government as well as the local governments have supported PROACTIVA's engagement by offering significant concession contracts to the company, not only for the operation of drinking water and sanitary services in cities like Montería, but also concessions for important aquatic sources near Bogota.

CENSAT - Agua Viva Friends of the Earth Colombia denounces PROACTIVA before the PPT for violating the constitution, as well as different national laws and decrees.

PROACTIVA has damaged the urban landscape and caused territory fragmentation by installing waste water deposits in residential areas; also, the company has ignored pricing agreements established between the former public service companies and the consumers and is demanding the payment of delayed invoices which are impossible to pay for the people who are consequently left without basic services.

Furthermore, the company has not complied with any of the commitments to expand and restore the networks in broad areas. In spite of this, water and canalisation services services have been charged in areas which even in the companies' own registers do not appear as areas in which any services are being provided.

Key issues: Privatization of Public Services and violation of fundamental rights

Denouncing organizations: Censat-Agua Viva – Friends of the Earth Colombia