WASHINGTON, DC – The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) today released the following statement from Peter Cook, executive director, regarding the publication of “Thirst,” by Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman and Michael Fox.
“The National Association of Water Companies believes in the fundamental right of the 150 year old private water industry to operate water companies as enterprises. Our members’ mission has always been to deliver safe, reliable drinking water to communities, and this service reaches over 33.5 million people every day.
“’Thirst’s’ arguments are based on a small fraction of all utilities in the private water service community (.02 percent), and it is not the product of a wide ranging investigation or a true reflection of the private water industry. It is based on opinion and rhetoric, rather than facts.
Privately owned water utilities are among the most highly regulated in the nation. We are subject to public health and environmental regulation at the state and Federal level, just like municipal utilities. However, unlike municipal utilities, we are also subject to economic regulation at the state level by the various State Public Utility Commissions which oversee and set water rates.
“Cities and towns need the freedom to consider all possible solutions, including the
private sector, when dealing with growing water challenges. It is important not to limit a municipality’s options to choose the model that works best for the community in order to deliver water safely and efficiently.”
