NJ Senate bill would ease sales of water utilities
NOVEMBER 29, 2014, 11:50 PM LAST UPDATED: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014, 11:54 PM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
As some New Jersey towns weigh whether to sell off their aging, burdensome drinking-water systems to for-profit water companies, a controversial bill making its way through the state Senate would speed up such sales by stripping away a mandatory public vote on the deals.
Proponents say the bill would make it easier for towns to sell their water and sewer systems and escape costly regulation and infrastructure upgrades — a decision recently weighed by several North Jersey towns, including Ramsey and Allendale.
Critics, however, say the Water Infrastructure Protection Act would cut the public out of the process and could lead to water rate hikes. There is also a concern about selling off a natural resource.
For the 200 small publicly owned water systems in the state — 20 or so in Bergen and Passaic counties — the sharp debate over the bill comes at a time when municipalities, struggling to keep up with more stringent drinking water regulations and facing old water mains, weigh whether to get out of the water business. For-profit water companies are interested in buying the municipal systems to continue their own growth.
Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, and a prime sponsor of the measure, believes “no town should be in the public water supply business.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-senate-bill-would-ease-sales-of-water-utilities-1.1143657
