The author examines the rapidly expanding market for private sector management of water systems. He explores the ways in which markets are being constructed, focusing on the role of international bodies—especially multilateral bodies such as the World Bank—in promoting various forms of private sector engagement. Arguing that market making is not politically neutral, he examines how the World Bank sets out to influence national governments in how they run their water-management systems, in the process highlighting alternative visions for community-based systems.