Last week, the Falls Township Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to join a municipal consortium opposing opposing water and sewer privatization.
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The vote by the supervisors comes several months after for-profit Aqua Pennsylvania attempted to purchase the public Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority for $1 billion. The move was guaranteed to raise rates and residents and numerous municipalities worried due to Aqua Pennsylvania’s history of increasing rates amid pressure to make a profit for shareholders. The deal fell apart after the Bucks County Commissioners came out against it and residents made their voices heard.
The consortium, which is led by Doylestown Borough, was set up to oppose the privatization of municipal water and sewer assets and to combat legislation that could impose requirements on public utilities that would benefit private utilities at the expense of residents.
Additionally, the consortium aims to represent municipal interests related to Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority’s proposed system upgrades that will impact numerous municipalities.
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The consortium is authorized to retain experts, consultants, and legal counsel as approved by a majority of members to prepare analyses, studies, court actions, and other documents as necessary to further the consortium, Falls Township officials said.
Falls Township agreed to pay $250 annually for the consortium costs as part of its membership.
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Parts of the Levittown area are served by the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority. The Township of Falls Authority, Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority, the Bristol Township Sewer Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania American Water, and several smaller local authorities also serve the area.
The consortium comes as more and more water and sewer privatization efforts take place in the region. The privatization removes local control from system and often leaded to large rate increases.
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