Paris shows the way

The City of Paris returned its water services to public ownership after 25 years of privatisation.

They have just released a report saying that the price for drinking water in Paris will go down 8% as a result of cost savings after remunicipalisation. As a true public service provider the city returns the profits from water to the citizens.



It is the first time since 1980 that the price for water has reduced. Over the period 1980 – 2009 the price had gone up each year, totalling a price increase of 480%. Inflation over the same period amounted to 250%. Taking into account that costs for water would have increased the same as inflation it seems that profits for the water companies over the period 1985 – 2009 have doubled.


Well done Paris by returning the profit to the citizens who obviously have been paying too much over the past 25 years of privatised water supply. Those who argue that Scotland's water should be privatised - take note!