| Water Works In Region's Best Environmental Interests |
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BY JAMES GLOZZY NorthJersey.com Friday, January 30, 2009 SHOULD towns control the tap?" (Page A-1, Jan. 5) raised a number of interesting issues concerning the ownership, operation and maintenance of New Jersey's water supply. However, it omitted mention of significant infrastructure investments currently under way in United Water New Jersey's service area. According to the environmentalist cited in the article, private water utilities like United Water are motivated purely by profit, ignore the interests of residents and have no interest in making investments in the water supply infrastructure. Nothing could be further from the truth. A simple look at United Water's Haworth water treatment plant would have provided your readers with a more realistic perspective on how private utilities, municipalities, regulators and customers work together to maintain and improve New Jersey's water supply infrastructure. Aging In November 2007, United Water broke ground on a three-year, $110 million comprehensive upgrade project of the Haworth plant, on the shore of the Oradell Reservoir. This plant is capable of pumping up to 200 million gallons of water a day through 2,000 miles of mains to 800,000 residents of Bergen and Hudson counties. When the project is complete, the Haworth plant will be one of the largest and most modern water treatment facilities in the United States. The Haworth plant was put into service in the mid-1960s to supplement drinking water supplies from our New Milford plant — United Water's main facility built in the early 1900s. When the Haworth plant was first built, it had the capacity to supply up to 50 million gallons of drinking water per day. In 1989, United Water upgraded the Haworth plant to produce 200 million gallons per day and decommissioned the New Milford plant. Since its construction, the Haworth plant has served the residents of Bergen and Hudson well. Meanwhile, we've experienced a dramatic increase in the water needs of our customers, as well as a significant change in the regulatory framework for safe drinking water. This $110 million upgrade at the Haworth plant will improve water quality, relieve operational difficulties and meet current and pending drinking water regulations. The reality is that United Water has and continues to surpass all state and federal water quality standards because the company has been committed to making the necessary investments in our infrastructure. To do anything less would be counterproductive to our customers, the municipalities we serve and the environment. The Haworth upgrade project is a centerpiece of United Water's long-term infrastructure investment strategy and will likely serve as a model for water treatment plants around the country. Alternatives Selling the municipalities' water system is only one option available to New Jersey communities. In 1995, the state passed a public-private partnership act that allows towns to control the tap and maintain ownership of their assets while contracting with a private company to operate and maintain their water system. Many towns entering into public-private partnerships have been able to improve water quality, enhance reliability, access state-of-the-art technology and human expertise, and provide superior customer service to residents. Companies like United Water have led the way on a national level in the development, execution and management of a number of very successful public-private partnerships. United Water now has contracts for water or wastewater services with municipalities in 27 states. In New Jersey, the company has contracts with the municipalities of Jersey City, Rahway, Hoboken, Camden, Orange, Manchester and Manalapan. So the short answer to the question "Should towns control the tap?" is no. More than 50 percent of New Jersey residents receive their water from private firms such as United Water. Another 20 percent receive it from public authorities like the Passaic Valley Water Commission. These firms are dedicated to working with municipalities and independent authorities to operate and maintain water supply infrastructure systems to the highest possible standards. Their interests are about delivering safe drinking water to their customers. James Glozzy is vice president and general manager of United Water New Jersey in Harrington Park. Copyright © North Jersey Media Group |
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