Wi1dtortilla t1_ixzh5wo wrote on November 27, 2022 at 4:37 PM

This is an interesting problem. I don’t like the idea of a private entity buying up local water systems, BUT many of the systems Aqua buys are not operating sustainability. By that I mean they are under billing and/or mismanaging their water system. Aqua has the personal and capability to correct these failing water systems, unfortunately that means higher bills.

Water systems, especially those in small communities, are in trouble. Their customers complain when rates raise, so authority-run systems are hesitant to raise rates and instead run the system at a loss or run the system without keeping up with critical maintenance. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.

As much as it pains me I tend to side with Aqua-type take overs because that means more reliable safe drinking water for the community. Pumping, treating, and distributing drinking water is a significant undertaking.

Edit: I am a licensed geologist who spent many years working with drinking water in Pennsylvania. Gettin’ downvoted for simply stating the facts that lead to private water companies taking over problematic small water systems.

Thehardwayalltheway t1_ixzr2ix wrote on November 27, 2022 at 5:45 PM

I work for a municipal authority and your analysis is 100% correct. Elected officials don't want tovrsise prices because of politics. Water and sewer plants will run on minimal budgets but a lot of things will be "deferred" because it's not in the budget. And then something major goes wrong and the municipality is forced to raise rates substantially or sell. And hint, selling is a more politically palatable move than raising rates--at first. But people will end up paying higher rates because the private company is going to set rates to make the exact same repairs and make a profit.

gslavik t1_iy15c7w wrote on November 27, 2022 at 11:23 PM

Sounds like proper government is the better solution.

AbsentEmpire t1_ixzug4u wrote on November 27, 2022 at 6:07 PM

Yep this is the problem entirely. Residents fight paying for the actual costs to maintain and run municipal services for decades, because they don't understand the concept of long-term maintenance and liability costs.

The system gets neglected to the point of failure, and local leaders being unable to raise the now massive amount of money to fix all the deferred maintenance, sell it off to private companies who have zero qualms with increasing people's bills to pay for the services and cover the cost of all that back due maintenance.

gslavik t1_iy14gv4 wrote on November 27, 2022 at 11:17 PM

> Aqua has the personal and capability to correct these failing water systems, unfortunately that means higher bills.

Or simply a profit motive. Ultimately, it is hard to trust a non-transparent monopoly to provide a service for cost + a little extra for future maint/upgrades.

CurrySoSpicy t1_iy14r3n wrote on November 27, 2022 at 11:19 PM

This is the case for The City York WWTP that just got bought out by PA American. I used to do automation and control work there. The city absolutely neglected the hell out of the plant and wouldn’t fix anything. They were up against a wall with DEP and EPA. So they sold out. Now PA American has to dump millions of dollars into the place to bring it up to speed.