New Jersey Governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie has signed a bill into law which privatizes all of the state's water supply. The goal of the bill was to allow the improvement of infrastructure.
The opponents of privatizing water fear that the businesses in charge will be more concerned with the highest bidder and profit-making rather than the public welfare and safety. Critics of the bill worry that it will cause a rise in prices which will negatively impact consumers and businesses alike and they claim that privatizing water consistently results in lower quality of water and health. They accuse the act of being undemocratic and of taking away the people's ability to control what happens to their health. This is because the bill takes away the requirement for the people to vote on whether or not water systems may be sold during conditions in which systems are in a state of emergency and need to be improved. Apparently, there are quite a few systems in New Jersey that need tending to.
In light of the recent water crisis in Flint, Michigan, privatizing water infrastructure may seem to be a good idea. The horrible results (which include lead poisoning and brain damage) of the public water in Flint are the fault of the negligence of the local and state governments. Perhaps, then, leaving the regulation up to businesses would allow for more security. However, when looking at the gas leak in Porter Ranch, California, one sees how unregulated business allows for environmental crises to occur. The leak of lethal levels of methane into the atmosphere has led to nosebleeds and headaches and the leak may not be plugged until March, despite beginning in October. Southern California Gas Company made negligent acts of their own and one sees the devastating effects on the people and the environment.
Thus, there is no guaranteed safety one way or the other, privately or publicly. What is needed is better regulation through policy, whether the natural resources are owned publicly or privately. For the betterment of the people's safety, governments and businesses must both forget personal financial gain and profits in order to keep the people and the environment safe.
