Water isn't a fundamental necessity (as in required for life) for 70-80% of the water used.
Water markets aren't typically (maybe there are some?) aimed at individuals, they're aimed at commercial users (farms, power plants, data centers, factories).
Yes, but pricing lubricates the slope towards the setup where Nestlé owns 100% of the water because they bid a pittance and the nearby town can't afford to outbid the pittance. Markets are a two-edged sword. One edge is "rich people can pay for factories to recycle water on site" but the other edge is "rich people matter, poor people don't." There's nothing wrong with trying to use edge #1 -- that's what capitalism is all about -- but edge #2 exists, is sharp, and has cut plenty of fingers off. People are leery of it for a reason.
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Water isn't a fundamental necessity (as in required for life) for 70-80% of the water used.
Water markets aren't typically (maybe there are some?) aimed at individuals, they're aimed at commercial users (farms, power plants, data centers, factories).
For example, see the : https://youtu.be/druiwE_GjRI?t=559 and the last section where they talk about waste.
Pricing encourages factories to do things like recycle water on site.
Yes, but pricing lubricates the slope towards the setup where Nestlé owns 100% of the water because they bid a pittance and the nearby town can't afford to outbid the pittance. Markets are a two-edged sword. One edge is "rich people can pay for factories to recycle water on site" but the other edge is "rich people matter, poor people don't." There's nothing wrong with trying to use edge #1 -- that's what capitalism is all about -- but edge #2 exists, is sharp, and has cut plenty of fingers off. People are leery of it for a reason.
How would you handle that 20% - 30% that is essential for life, if the rest is purely market-based?