Greenpeace campaigns against lower water and sewer fees for large companies
In Greenpeace's view, water shouldn't be treated as a commodity, but rather as a human right
The NGO Greenpeace launched on Friday (20) a campaign urging São Paulo state authorities and the state's water utility Sabesp to terminate the special contracts signed with industrial and commercial organizations.
On March 10, Sabesp released a list with the biggest water consumers in the city's metropolitan region taking advantage of such an agreement. The deal, which was created in 2007 to benefit companies that use over 500 m³ per month, grants them discounts of up to 45% in water and sewer fees. Among the 534 companies listed are hospitals, supermarkets, universities, factories, commercial condominiums, and shopping malls. According to Sabesp figures, they account for the consuption of 1.9 million m³ per month on average—2% to 3% of all of the consumption in the metropolitan region, home to 20 million peope.
“During the current water crisis, which has lasted for months and is expected to keep affecting São Paulo, it is outrageous that, while the population faces water shortages on a daily basis, there are still larger consumers using over 500 thousand liters every month, and who are granted discounts for that. We're arguing here that water shouldn't be treated as a commodity, but rather as a human right, and that home use should be prioritized over that of large consumers,” said Pedro Teles, Greenpeace coordinator of campaigns on climate and energy.
Greenpeace has also created a website where people can sign a petition pressuring both the state government and Sabesp to address the issue.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Greenpeace campaigns against lower water and sewer fees for large companies
