Authority
quarter pays $119.28 in the authority’s eastern region and $142.86 in its western area. It also says that customer would pay $226.85 in that same time period if their water came from a private utility such as Aqua.
The study also addressed service, particularly the results of a 2014 Susquehanna Polling & Research survey of 2,257 CWA customers that found 96 percent were satisfied with the level of service provided by the authority. Employees’ friendliness and courteousness also received a 97 percent satisfaction rate and the water taste was given a 91 percent satisfaction return.
The study also took into consideration some reports from Food & Water Watch, a food and water advocacy group created out of Public Citizen in 2005.
Some of Food & Water Watch’s findings include the fact that private utilities nationwide charge a typical household 33 percent more for water than their public counterparts. In a 2015 study, the group said a typical household pays 59 percent more for privately owned water service than public service – to the tune of approximately $185 each year.
Aqua PA officials described Food & Water Watch as an anti-privatization organization. According to TruthfromtheTap. com, FWW is a “D.C.-based activist and lobbying group pushing an anti-private agenda.”
TruthfromtheTap also noted that rate increases have occurred in both private and public utilities and link them to infrastructure needs.
The analysis also listed 20 awards received by the CWA, including the 5-Year President’s Award by the Partnership for Safe Water Awards received this year.
Finally, in addition to including internal documents about the authority’s pipes and systems, the report did a capital expenditure evaluation of the CWA from 1974 through 2015. In its 2013 annual report, the authority reports $41 million of operating revenues with 42,732 customers and its Aa1 Moody bond rating is also featured on its website.
At Thursday’s meeting, CWA board member Joseph McGinn read a statement.
“I know most of my fellow board members have expressed their desire to be reappointed to their positions but the city of Chester and the county of Chester have not acted on the reappointments,” he said. “I wish my colleagues well and I hope that they do not pay a price for their May 18, 2017, vote not to sell the authority’s assets.”
Delaware County, Chester County and the city of Chester each have three representatives on the board. On Aug. 16, Delaware County Council approved the reappointment of McGinn, Leitzell and former Chester Mayor Wendell Butler to the board.
Chester city officials have yet to approve William S. Riley, John Shelton Sr. or Livia Smith. Their terms are up next month.
Representing Chester County, Thomas Chiomento III asked county commissioners not to be reappointed to the board. Paul Andriole and Leonard J. Rivera’s terms expire at the end of this month. Andriole said he was asked if he wanted to be reappointed and he also requested it.
McGinn spoke about Aqua’s proposal.
“We all voted no in May and I’ve heard and seen nothing since then that would cause me to change my vote,” he said, as he referenced the plethora of resolutions the CWA had received in support of their vote opposing the Aqua offer.
From June 19 through Aug. 1, 11 Delaware County municipalities – Aston, Bethel, Concord, Lower Chichester, Parkside, Brookhaven, Marcus Hook, Thornbury, Trainer, Upper Chichester and Upland – passed resolutions opposing a public takeover of the Chester Water Authority.
Marcus Hook council President Josephine Laird was present at Thursday’s CWA meeting.
When asked her opinion, she said, “Don’t sell, plain and simple.”
In its resolution, Trainer borough officials noted a price range difference between the average for Chester Water authority ratepayers between $35.15 to $41.70 with an Aqua average water rate of $65.20.
It also mentioned concerns about Aqua’s transparency as the rules governing a for-profit entity are different than those for a public organization like CWA. AUTHORITY » PAGE 15