The Business of Water: An Examination of private participation in water governance in the US
Authors
Yusuf, Najmo Mohamoud ; Jensen, Line Lund
Term
4. term
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-08-31
Pages
90
Abstract
This thesis examines private sector involvement in U.S. water governance through a qualitative case study of American Water’s role in West Virginia, set against the backdrop of the 2014 chemical spill. Drawing on literature on water governance, framing, corporate citizenship, and civil society, it analyzes how the company (American Water West Virginia) and opposing actors (including Our Water WV, Public Citizen, and Food & Water Watch) conceptualize water and water rights, and how those frames shape approaches to drinking water management. The analysis finds that both corporate and civil actors invoke ethical frames—such as stewardship and water as a human right—yet two fundamental points of contention persist: ownership and responsibility for providing a public service, and a perceived incompatibility between profit motives and the public interest. These tensions sustain the divide between public and private control of water despite some shared values. The thesis also relates the findings to a Danish context and discusses implications for future water governance.
Denne afhandling undersøger den private sektors involvering i vandforvaltning i USA gennem et kvalitativt casestudie af American Waters rolle i West Virginia, sat i relief af det kemiske udslip i 2014. Med udgangspunkt i litteratur om vandgovernance, indramning (framing), virksomhedsborgerskab og civilsamfund analyserer studiet, hvordan både virksomheden (American Water West Virginia) og modstående aktører (bl.a. Our Water WV, Public Citizen og Food & Water Watch) begrebsliggør vand og vandrettigheder, og hvordan disse forståelser påvirker styringsformer for drikkevand. Afhandlingen finder, at både corporate og civile aktører anvender etiske rammer—fx forvalterskab og vand som en menneskeret—men at to grundlæggende konfliktpunkter består: ejerskab og ansvar for en offentlig ydelse samt en oplevet uforenelighed mellem markedsprofitter og den almene interesse. Disse spændinger fastholder modsætningen mellem offentlig og privat kontrol med vand, på trods af visse fælles værdier. Afhandlingen perspektiverer også til en dansk kontekst og drøfter implikationer for den fremtidige vandgovernance.
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