Text: Albert Recio. Professor of Economics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Photo: Pipa Álvarez, Enric Font. Miguel López, Josep Massip and Rubén Pérez
This struggle was developed by the neighborhood movement in several neighborhoods in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. In its origins, he rose up against abusive tax increases in the water bill, some of which were not related to the water cycle.
In addition to the multiple demonstrations and protests, it emphasized the refusal to pay the part corresponding to those taxes on water bills.
The reflection of the movement itself during the conflict resulted in a proposed change in the tariff model aimed at ensuring an affordable cost for basic consumption and penalizing excessive consumption.
He also developed a culture of saving. At the moment, Barcelona is a city with lower water consumption than other large cities (110 liters per person per day).
The fight ended in a partial victory. The rates corresponding to the part of the service that is not privatized were consistent with civic demands (proof is split, weighting inhabitants per home), but the party itself depended AGBAR private enterprise was not touched.
