Now that the wave of water privatisation of the 1980s and 1990s has let up, the main challenge facing water utilities in Latin America is expanding coverage of high-quality water services.

In Mexico, water has always been publicly controlled. Each state has its own water system, in charge of supplies and billing.

But in other countries, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank recommendations in the last two decades of the 20th century drove the privatisation of water, whose management was handed over in concession to U.S. and European corporations.

However, the poor performance of these companies and soaring water rates rapidly triggered discontent.

Today, public water utilities in the region are making enormous efforts to live up to these provisions.
The biggest challenge facing public water companies is bringing high-quality water services to slums and dispersed rural populations.

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