EPA records show that investor-owned utilities have a near-perfect record when it comes to avoiding health-related violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Investor-owned and municipal-owned water purveyors are neither better nor worse than each other, they’re just different and there’s a place for both. Each has its own benefits and each has its own costs.

Privately owned utilities are found to be less vulnerable to [water quality] violations than government ownership. In particular, large private firms are associated with lower likelihood of violation.

To any resident who’s looking at how to vote on this sale referendum, I would strongly encourage them to think about the system, how long it’s been in public hands, and where it’s ended up…Selling to a privately, qualified operator who does this all the time, who has vast resources that they can devote to your system is long-term going to be a much safer bet.

The referendum was the biggest next step in a long and difficult process to create a winning situation for both water and sewer users…and general taxpayers…even those who voted no will come to appreciate the wisdom of the decision to sell these assets which was supported by all Boards and Commissions involved.