Christie signs bill allowing simplifying towns’ selling of water systems to for-profits
FEBRUARY 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Governor Christie signed a controversial bill Thursday that will make it easier for towns to sell their aging drinking water systems to for-profit companies by eliminating a public vote on such sales.
The bill pitted large for-profit water companies against an unusual alliance of groups opposing the proposal, including environmentalists and the state advocate for utility ratepayers, who say the bill could bring higher water rates.
Advocates of the bill, including state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, said the changes would help towns escape the financial burden of making costly upgrades to systems that routinely leak up to 25 percent of treated water before it reaches customers.
The bill comes as towns try to figure out how to pay for upgrades to old water pipes, some of which were installed a century ago. The federal government estimates it will take $4.7 billion to upgrade New Jersey’s water infrastructure over the next 20 years.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/christie-signs-bill-easing-water-system-sales-1.1266069
