Sanitary Works of the Nation

Sanitary Works of the Nation (Spanish: Obras Sanitarias de la Nación, abbreviated OSN) was a state-owned company of Argentina dedicated to supplying the public with running water and sewer services. Established in 1912, the company's operation area included mostly the Buenos Aires Province area.

The company had different denominations and was privatized during the presidency of Carlos Menem with influence from the French group Suez, the Spanish company Aguas de Barcelona, and other private groups like Banco Galicia.

The government of Carlos Menem carried out a plan of privatization of state-owned companies –started in 1990 through decree nº 2074/90. Through decree n° 999/92, the rates were increased 74%. Finally OSN was dissolved and fell into a state of liquidation (by decree nº 2394) on December 15, 1992.

On April 18, 1993, the contract of concession was signed between the Argentine state and "Aguas Argentinas S.A.", a corporation group formed by French-owned Suez Environnement, and Spanish Aguas de Barcelona and Banco Galicia, among other companies. The contract set a term of 30 years of concession, with Aguas Argentinas taking over operations since May 10, 1993. then extended during the government of Fernando de la Rúa. The OSN debts were not absorbed by Aguas Argentinas, leaving them to the Argentine state.