TFTT Report
Pittsburgh Outlet Features NAWC Commentary About Water Referendum
An op-ed from NAWC President and CEO Rob Powelson, titled “Pittsburgh’s water woes — why slamming the door on private solutions is a bad idea,” was recently featured on Triblive.com.
In the piece, Powelson makes the case for why Pittsburgh’s consideration of a referendum on working with regulated, private water companies is “shortsighted and ignores the reality of the city’s crumbling infrastructure and the potential benefits of exploring all available solutions.” Pointing to a similar example out of Baltimore, Powelson notes that activists’ supporting these restrictive measures make claims “based on fear, not facts” and ignore the “experience of countless communities across the nation where private water companies are delivering safe, reliable service.”
Powelson concludes: “Ensuring safe, reliable and affordable water is a crucial responsibility of our city officials. Before we rush to a permanent ban on private sector involvement, let’s have an honest conversation about the realities of Pittsburgh’s water and wastewater system. We encourage voters to keep all options on the table so we can secure a future where all Pittsburgh residents can count on access to clean, safe and affordable service.”
Read the full piece here: https://community.triblive.com/news/3793196