TFTT Report

In a guest column today for Water Online, NAWC Executive Director Michael Deane responded to the Aug. 17 article Public, Private Showdown: Which Water Utility Model Is Best? His response corrects the misconception that there is a “showdown” between public and private water utilities, and that rather individual communities should be able to explore all options for providing quality water service to their residents.

To the editor:

I read with great interest Sara Jerome’s August 17 article “Public, Private Showdown: Which Water Utility Model Is Best?” which reported on the soon-to-be-released findings of a recent study examining public and private utility models. “Which are more effective?” the article asks. The answer isn’t black or white.  While the private water industry would certainly agree with some of the study’s observations, such as the private sector’s strong record of compliance, the truth is that this narrative starts with the wrong premise. The water challenges this nation faces are significant and it requires a holistic approach where the public and private sectors work together — not as opposing forces.

The article also included information from the study that needs correction.  First, the piece implied that private utilities have little incentive to conserve. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Private water companies promote water conservation every day and have robust conservation programs that include customer education, free retrofit fixtures, rebate and incentive programs, and leak detection kits to name a few.  These are things all well-managed utilities should be doing. Being a steward of water is critical for all of us, whether public utility, private utility, or the customer.

Read the rest of his response here.