Africa: Privatised water, biodiversity and the poor

Of all the negative environmental and social impacts of privatisation, the most profound one is the marginalisation of poor consumers as companies shift to more profit-orientated policies. "Water companies tend to prioritise water delivery to rich urban neighbourhoods, and ignore the often more desperate needs for safe drinking water in remote rural communities and other poor sectors of society," says a report published by Friends of the Earth that discusses the impacts of privatisation of water supply and biodiversity on the poor throughout the world, especially women.