Cochabamba Water War

Quick Facts: Who was Cochabamba Water War?

Subject:

Cochabamba Water War

Known for:

Bolivian anti-privatization protests against the sale of municipal water services.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Cochabamba Water War, also known as the Bolivian Water War, was a series of protests that took place in Cochabamba, Bolivia's fourth largest city, between December 1999 and April 2000 in response to the privatization of the city's municipal water supply company SEMAPA. The wave of demonstrations and police violence was described as a public uprising against water prices. The tensions erupted when a new firm, Aguas del Tunari (a joint venture involving Bechtel), was required to invest in construction of a long-envisioned dam (a priority of mayor Manfred Reyes Villa), so they had drastically raised water rates. Protests, largely organized through the Coordinadora (Coalition in Defense of Water and Life), a community coalition, erupted in January, February, and April 2000, culminating in tens of thousands marching downtown and battling police. On 10 April 2000, the national government reached an agreement with the Coordinadora to reverse the privatization.

Career & Major Achievements

A complaint filed by foreign investors was resolved by agreement in February 2001. The restoration of civilian rule to Bolivia in 1982 ended decades of military dictatorships, but did not bring economic stability. In 1985, with hyperinflation at an annual rate of 25000%, few foreign investors would do business in the country. The Bolivian government turned to the World Bank as a last resort against economic meltdown. For the next 20 years, successive governments followed the World Bank's provisions in order to qualify for continued loans from the organization.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The World Bank said that "poor governments are often too plagued by local corruption", similarly the World Bank stated that "no subsidies should be given to ameliorate the increase in water tariffs in Cochabamba". The New Yorker reported on the World Bank's motives, "Most of the poorest neighborhoods were not hooked up to the network, so the state subsidies and water utility went mainly to industries and middle-class neighborhoods; the poor paid far more for water of dubious purity from trucks and handcarts. In the World Bank's view, it was a city that was crying out for water privatization." In a 2002 publication the World Bank acknowledges that one of its loans, the "Major Cities Water and Sewerage Rehabilitation Project", included a condition to privatize the La Paz and Cochabamba water utilities. The privatization was required to allow a two-year extension of the project that was due to close in 1995. The World Bank project that began in 1990 had covered three cities, leading to sharply diverging outcomes: Access increased and service quality improved in Santa Cruz de la Sierra where a successful cooperative provided services, which enjoyed, according to the World Bank, "the reputation as one of the best-managed utilities in South America." However, results were mixed in La Paz and poor in Cochabamba.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1982: 1982 Milestone — The restoration of civilian rule to Bolivia in 1982 ended decades of military dictatorships, but did not bring economic stability.
2. 1985: 1985 Milestone — In 1985, with hyperinflation at an annual rate of 25000%, few foreign investors would do business in the country.
3. 1990: 1990 Milestone — The World Bank project that began in 1990 had covered three cities, leading to sharply diverging outcomes: Access increased and service quality improved in Santa Cruz de la Sierra where a successful cooperative provided services, which enjoyed, according to the World Bank, "the reputation as one of the best-managed utilities in South America.
4. 1995: 1995 Milestone — The privatization was required to allow a two-year extension of the project that was due to close in 1995.
5. 1999: 1999 Milestone — The Cochabamba Water War, also known as the Bolivian Water War, was a series of protests that took place in Cochabamba, Bolivia's fourth largest city, between December 1999 and April 2000 in response to the privatization of the city's municipal water supply company SEMAPA.
6. 2000: 2000 Milestone — Protests, largely organized through the Coordinadora (Coalition in Defense of Water and Life), a community coalition, erupted in January, February, and April 2000, culminating in tens of thousands marching downtown and battling police.
7. 2001: 2001 Milestone — A complaint filed by foreign investors was resolved by agreement in February 2001.
8. 2002: 2002 Milestone — " In a 2002 publication the World Bank acknowledges that one of its loans, the "Major Cities Water and Sewerage Rehabilitation Project", included a condition to privatize the La Paz and Cochabamba water utilities.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cochabamba Water War

True or False: “The World Bank initially recommended that Cochabamba's poor neighborhoods should receive state subsidies for water access.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The World Bank suggested that no subsidies should be given to ameliorate the increase in water tariffs in Cochabamba.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cochabamba Water War