Cochabamba has experienced problems due to the water wars which have been going on for years. These problems, such as lack of clean water, access to water, and water shortage, created a "war  between the people and the government of Cochabamba. Because of Bolivia's lack of clean water and basic sanitation, it is low ranking in many health and development areas in Latin America (South America: Bolivia). In the urban areas of Bolivia, four percent of people do not have access to clean drinking water, while about twenty-eight percent of the rural population doesn't have access. In total, twelve percent of the population does not have clean drinking water. Fifty three percent of the entire population of Bolivia does not have access to sanitation facilities, which is an extremely large amount (South America).
This is why in September of 1998, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loaned money to Bolivia which required them to privatize oil refineries and Cochabamba's local water agency. Bolivia gave Cochabamba's municipal water system to Aguas del Tunari, who planned to privatize water and sewage disposal for forty years. This raised the cost for residents, which led to protests by the citizens, shutting down the city for four days. In the beginning of February of 2000, the protests turned violent when riot police injured and used tear gas on protesters. La Coordinada, a group against this action, was eventually given control of the water situation (Sadiq). Different ethnic groups involved in the water wars included the Quechua, mestizos, Aymara, and white population. Bolivia's indigenous populations are unique because they make up the majority of the population (South America). They are all about traditions, including those pertaining to water, therefore they played a large role in the Cochabamba water wars. They were very against the privatization of water, and fought to keep their water rights.
Just like the indigenous people, othe...