Private Foreign Ownership

Chicago Tribune:

For many towns across the country, it once seemed like a good idea to have municipal water utilities in the hands of private companies.

Now, bristling against skyrocketing rates, spotty service and foreign ownership, a number of towns across Illinois and the U.S. are waging fierce battles to regain control of their drinking water. A host of them are fighting [RWE,] a German conglomerate that has snapped up more than 1,800 American water utilities.