Does the right to water mean that water should be free?
The right to water does not mean that water is to be provided free of charge. However, individuals are entitled to water that is affordable. Water should be treated as a social and cultural good, a public good, and not primarily as an economic good. This point was confirmed in CESCR’s General Comment 15. Water cannot be treated as a commodity. Any payment for water services must be based on the principle of equity, ensuring that these services, whether privately or publicly provided, are affordable to all, including socially disadvantaged groups.
