As a Haddonfield resident, I have been researching our borough’s water crisis and attended June’s public meeting. I realize that our water and sewer system is in need of improvements, regardless of whether we sell or maintain ownership. What is at stake is the control of the system. If we sell to American Water, we will lose control and pay substantially more. I applaud our current Commissioners for investing in the infrastructure and for tackling the problem, but am asking them to halt the sale and look into other options.
The sale should be stopped, as it will cost us more in the long run. Private utilities charge more than public systems for the same amount of water. Any money that we receive from American Water for the sale will be repaid by our residents at a much higher premium, costing us much more in the long term. (www.foodandwaterwatch.org/reports/borrowing-trouble-water-privatization-is-a-false-solution-for-municipal-budget-shortfalls/)
I would like to see other options presented. What about pursuing a public-public partnership to reduce our costs and enhance the performance of our system? The federal government supports public utilities through the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds and Clean Water State Revolving Funds. Have we fully explored the potential of these subsidized loans? Have we looked at refinancing existing water-related debt to reduce interest rates?
To keep costs down, and maintain our local control, Haddonfield’s water should not be privatized. Why have we not been offered any other solution other than selling?
Mayor Kasko, commissioner Moscatelli and commissioner Rochford, please stop the sale of our water and sewer system and look into other options.
-Nancy Potts
