WaterTalk: What’s public about public water?

Thursday, December 7, 2023 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EST (GMT -05:00)
WaterTalk

As part of the Water Institute's WaterTalks lecture seriesDr. David McDonald, Professor, Department of Global Development Studies, Queen’s University, will present: What’s public about public water?

This event is in person in DC 1302 with a lunch reception to follow in DC 1301 (The Fishbowl).


More information

Debates about water privatization have tended to construct a simplistic binary of public versus private. In reality, ‘public’ water is varied and complex in its institutional and ideological make-up, illustrated in part by the rise of very different types of ‘remunicipalized’ water services over the past ten years as well as the growth of ‘corporatized’ public utilities. Drawing on two decades of empirical and theoretical work on this topic, Dr McDonald will highlight key tensions and synergies in the emerging debates about the nature of public water services.

Speaker bio

David McDonald

David McDonald is Professor of Global Development Studies at Queen’s University and Director of the Municipal Services Project. He has conducted research on public services in more than 50 countries and has written extensively in academic and popular formats. His most recent book is “Meanings of Public and the Future of Public Services


The University of Waterloo is committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities who are visiting, studying or working at Waterloo. If you have questions concerning access or wish to request accommodations for this event, please contact Julie Grant (j26grant@uwaterloo.ca)