The centrality of community participation to the realization of the right to water: The illustrative case of South Africa

While it has been widely recognized that the world is experiencing a water crisis, ongoing divisions remain in the quest to ¼nd an enduring resolution. The most polarized aspect of this debate relates to the role of market-based solutions and, particularly, the role of the private sector in the provision of water services. A related issue is the scope and content of the emerging human right to water and the question of whether or not it is compatible with corporate control over water.