Privatization Bill Threatens Clean Water

For Immediate Release

October 14, 2014

Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100

Privatization Bill Threatens Clean Water

The New Jersey Sierra Club is concerned with new legislation S2412, the Water Infrastructure Protection Act. This legislation would authorize municipal, county, and regional utilities to sell or lease their water or wastewater to a private company. These leases or sales could be done without any public notice, comments, or approval. Unless the petition to sell or lease is signed by 15% of voters in the area then there will be a public referendum.

"The whole purpose of this legislation is too not only make it easier to privatize water and sewer, but to take away public oversight and input. This will lead to more pollution, dirty drinking water, and pay to play abuses or worse. We should not let foreign multinational corporations hold our drinking water hostage," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Privatization often leads to higher rates for services and worse quality in drinking water and more pollution from sewer systems going into our streams and rivers. Studies have shown that when public services are privatized corporate profits replace meeting the needs of consumers and the environment.

"Privatization is one of the single biggest threats to clean water and public health. Companies that take over public water and sewer systems often care more about profits than the public they are supposed to serve. We see higher costs for the services and in many cases even big problems at facilities that they try to cover up. The word privateer comes from privatization and we know that is just another name for a pirate," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

There have been many instances where private water companies have deliberately botched water quality tests to avoid problems from contamination that would require costly upgrades to their systems. In many cases the water supply did not meet minimum standards for pollution. These practices hurt the environment and put public health and safety at risk.

The privately-owned United Water Company maintains the water supply for Jersey City. The company began selling a portion of the City's capacity to suburbs in the Rockaway River watershed which resulted in more pollution from sewer plant discharge entering Jersey City's water supply, the Boonton Reservoir. In addition to the increased pollution, Jersey City lost future growth capacity. Instead of putting the best interests of the citizens of Jersey City first, the company saddled the City with decreased water quality and quantity to increase corporate profits. Attempts to privatize both Trenton and Newark's water have failed due to public pressure against privatization, which is why this legislation is lacking public insight.

"Many towns and public utilities want to privatize water and sewer services for short term financial gain which will mean long term problems for their residents. Residents spoke out in Trenton and Newark stopping the privatization of their water. This legislation is trying to silence residents since they know the public is against these privatizations because with privatization we see higher costs, worse services, and at times threats to public health and safety. These companies who take over care more about their shareholders than the public they are suppose to serve," said Tittel.

 --  Nicole Dallara, Outreach Coordinator New Jersey Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609-656-7612 https://www.facebook.com/NJSierraClub https://twitter.com/nicdalla3 --  Nicole Dallara, Outreach Coordinator New Jersey Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609-656-7612 https://www.facebook.com/NJSierraClub https://twitter.com/nicdalla3