Authority

“Chester Water Authority’s paramount interest is to serve the rate payers of Delaware County, Chester County and the City of Chester while Aqua’s paramount interest is to serve its investors and shareholders,” it read.

Aqua Pennsylvania officials said there are differences with a private owner that benefit customers.

“Municipal authorities are not required to hold public hearings before they raise customer rates,” they said. “Regulated utilities are subject to public rate hearings by the Public Utility Commission.”

Dominic A. Pileggi, president of Concord Township Council, wrote in Concord’s resolution, “Council would like to voice its opposition to any takeover by Aqua considering the favorable rates and service historically provided.”

In Lower Chichester’s resolution, commissioners President Rocco Gaspari Jr., said, “We request that the CWA board not sell its customers and assets to a for-profit company. We request that the board continue to protect our township residents and businesses by putting the interests of the ratepayers first when making decisions about the authority’s operations and future.”

The Chester Water Authority serves 42,000 customers, equating to approximately 200,000 people, in 17 of Delaware County’s 49 municipalities and in 16 of Chester County’s 73 municipalities. It has more than 656 miles of pipeline that draws water from the Susquehanna River on the borders of Chester and Lancaster counties and the Octoraro Reservoir.

Founded as Philadelphia Suburban Corp. in 1886, Aqua America Inc. has become the second largest publicly traded American water company, serving 3 million people in eight states.

The next meeting of the Chester Water Authority is 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 at Neumann University.

KATHLEEN CAREY – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Thomas V. Chiomento III, board member of the Chester Water Authority and representative from Chester County, said he asked county commissioners not to reappoint him.