Western Pa. needs private water utilities
Decades of underinvestment in our water infrastructure has left Pennsylvania’s communities struggling to meet the clean water needs of its citizens. Our state’s aging water and wastewater systems present a pressing challenge that will require strategic and sustained investments for modernization and upkeep. This is especially true for government-run systems.
Infrastructure is the backbone of our communities, affecting public health, economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. The challenges we face are not just about upgrading old pipes and similar repairs. They’re about safeguarding our communities.
A cost to everyone
No one wants to see higher water and tax rates. Unfortunately, investments in infrastructure come at a cost — a cost to ratepayers, a cost to communities, and in the case of government-owned systems, a cost to taxpayers.
A recent analysis by the independent global consulting firm Charles River Associates focuses on the impact of privatization and consolidation on Pennsylvania’s water and wastewater systems. The report underscores the transformative benefits of such investments.
The study’s author said that private water utilities have brought expertise, access to capital, and economies of scale to water systems across the Commonwealth while significantly contributing to the state and local economies.
Private water utilities directly employ over 2,000 Pennsylvanians with an average annual compensation of $100,000 including benefits — well-paying jobs that can sustain families. Additionally, these companies support another 11,300 jobs indirectly.
More than $1 billion annually is added to Pennsylvania’s economy in the form of capital projects, with the economic effects spread across a variety of industries.
Environmental benefits
Most importantly to me, this study points out the environmental benefits of improved water infrastructure. Private and consolidated water companies show lower violation rates of federal water standards.
An analysis of Safe Drinking Water Act violations from 2013 to 2023 shows that private and consolidated systems consistently have drastically lower average violation rates than all other types of water systems. In the wastewater sector, the notably lower rate of federal Clean Water Act violations by private and consolidated wastewater systems underscores their commitment to protecting Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams.
Beyond the quantifiable benefits, private water companies contribute to communities in other ways. For example, they provide financial support to local environmental nonprofit organizations such as Watersheds of South Pittsburgh.
Through grants from private water companies, local nonprofits have been able to conduct critical water quality monitoring, riparian and floodplain plantings, increasing and enhancing improvements to green space and vacant lots, and support for community gardens.
Private water suppliers have supported volunteerism by their employees, allowing them time to offer their assistance and expertise for community improvement events, such as litter and dumpsite cleanups, community garden plantings, tree plantings, and building and installing hardscape.
This support is critical for the sustainability of many environmental nonprofits across Pennsylvania, ensuring that they can effectively meet their missions and forward their vision of clean, healthy, swimmable, fishable, and drinkable water.
Infrastructure and resilience
Private water companies contribute more than $1 billion annually to the Commonwealth’s economy, consistently provide higher-quality water, and have drastically fewer environmental violations than other systems.
In envisioning Pennsylvania’s future, we must prioritize infrastructure investments to secure the resilience of our communities. By doing so, we not only address immediate needs, but also contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future for all Pennsylvanians.
It is a collective responsibility to ensure that our taps always deliver high quality water and our community’s wastewater is managed to protect our natural resources. Our commitment to infrastructure investments is key to fulfilling this promise.