Private Water Company?

[mjwalsh]

I remember awhile back they had on the news that some metro areas actually have a private water company similar to the private gas & electric utility company. I wonder how widespread this is & if this has been made to work for this particular service? I know there is a lot to be said about tradition & which is worse ---- to be at the level of mercy we are at when it comes to private or public on more sensitive services. Either way there could be a potential monopoly type of danger it seems to me.

 

[pitzerwm]

Private water companies are usually where a development is not able to be connected to the city water. I lived in such a development in the 80's, they are controlled by the state, and when the city grows out to the development they buy it.

 

[chadrpalmer]

i was sitting in the holiday inn lobby waiting for my wife and baby to wake up, there was an interesting article in the USA Today about more and more municipalities selling there water service to private companies. they are paying off debt and banking a couple of million, but have little or no price control.

 

[mac]

I worked with a large private one in FL and it was interesting to hear them explain how many of their techs it took to maintain lift stations compared to public utilities. There was a big difference. Either the private company hired much smarter people, or the public service unions ran the others.

 

[Washmee]

We have a private water company that supplies water to my hometown and many others in the area. Their rates are better than the public owned utilities and the water quality is way better. Aqua