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Spain: Landmark water sale rules to open market

By  |  April 3, 2014

Spain is reportedly set to introduce legislation aimed at opening the water market by tightening local authorities’ rules to sell water to homes and business, requiring those towns to prove they are better than the alternative.

Reports say the towns or districts looking to sell water would need to prove they are more “sustainable and efficient” that investor-owned alternatives. Reports say the proposals could open its water system to new competition.

But while major utilities including France’s Suez Environment will benefit fro the rules, some criticize the plans as ones that do not equally benefit the consumer interest.

According to reports, privately-owned companies control about 36 percent of the urban water market, whereas public sector companies and local authorities control about 47 percent.

Full Content: Businessweek

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