The Little Town That Sent a Corporation Packing: How Felton, Calif., Achieved Water Independence

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:



How Felton, Calif., Achieved Water Independence
Why controlling your water supply is so important.

by Tara Lohan
posted May 27, 2010


In 2008, weeks after communities all over the United States celebrated the Fourth of July, the tiny town of Felton, Calif., marked its own holiday: Water Independence Day. With barbecue, music, and dancing, residents marked the end of Felton’s six-year battle to gain control of its water system. The fight, like the festivities, was a grassroots effort. For when a large, private corporation bought Felton’s water utility and immediately raised rates, residents organized, leading what was ultimately a successful campaign for public ownership and inspiring other communities nationwide.

Like many other communities with a privately controlled water system, Felton quickly experienced some of the drawbacks: skyrocketing rates, and little public recourse. But officials of some cash-strapped towns seek privatization because they believe a corporation will help lift their burden. Across the country, public water systems require massive repairs to deteriorating infrastructure, at an estimated annual cost of about $17 billion over the next 20 years. Our aging water mains result in some 240,000 breaks a year, and more than a trillion gallons of wastewater spill into our waterways annually. Federal funds typically help communities pay the repair bills, but escalating costs have prompted many cities to look for alternatives.

Some local leaders, eager for financial help, have turned to private companies to buy their utilities or lease them—arrangements known as public-private partnerships. Companies promise system improvements, greater efficiency, and money up front, but increasing evidence suggests that cities are getting the raw end of such deals: Privatization jeopardizes public supply and access to water and drives up costs for citizens.

“Providing clean, accessible, affordable water is not only the most basic of all government services, but throughout history, control of water has defined the power structure of societies,” Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman, filmmakers who documented the effort of Stockton, Calif., to fight privatization, wrote in the book Water Consciousness. “If we lose control of our water, what do we as citizens really control through our votes, and what does democracy mean?” .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/water-solutions/how-felton-ca-achieved-water-independence

[SoCalDem]

1. Good for them There was a time when ALL towns of any size

had their own power plant, water works and gas company. They had coops for their own local farmers too.

These were often run as non-profits so costs could be kept low. People were hired to operate them, but they were OWNED by the people.

The problems started when technology started outpacing all these facilities that were getting quite old. Snake-oil purveyors convinced enough elected officials that instead of going to the tax payers for levies so they could build/repair the aging plants, THEY would gladly build & operate a brand new state-of-the-art facility..

Of course we all understand how monopolies really work, when they are run for profit...and the rest is history.. Those "low-low prices" did not last very long.. only long enough to demolish the old facilities.

If you don;t like the way your electric company or water company does business, what other choice do you really have? any? we don't.

[blogslut]

2. My hometown has been fighting a certain sidewinder's water grab for a long while

We'll probably be fighting him for the remainder of his wicked life. These days he's hiding behind the facade of alternative energy and sadly, many people believe the charade. Fortunately, the people in my district know he's full of shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70HFEHB6dag

[Robb]

3. Be careful what you wish for, though, and check it out CAREFULLY

...My old stomping grounds was a great example. Private water company served a nearby mesa-top community. The water company had a few onerous rules -- they charged full minimum fees for empty lots, for example -- so a few of the people made noise to get them regulated by the state.

The water company was tied to a real estate development corp and a golf course and lord knows what else, all amazingly shady. But as it turned out, a pretty good deal was had on water overall -- it was absorbed by the other aspects of the fellow's business dealings, and was all meant to work together -- to help sell lots and golf memberships, of course, nothing altruistic but there it was.

As a fully-regulated water provider, the guy now is required by law to charge a certain percentage over his costs of obtaining the water. The idea is, if it's a governmnet-regulated entity, they have to believe it's going to be viable going forward 40 years or so. The formulas aren't allowed, again by statute, to take into account the guy's other business dealings. It's expensive in that part of the world to bring water to the top of a 1,000-foot mesa. Anyhow, water bills on the mesa tripled.

Not the same situation as the OP, of course, but food for thought. We think about water out here in the West a LOT. :)