Letter to editor: Towamencin Township supervisors rebut news article
Sewer system sale is a win-win, they say
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2023 at 5:40 p.m. | UPDATED: May 10, 2023 at 5:42 p.m.
As the four elected supervisors of Towamencin Township who voted in support of Pennsylvania American Water’s acquisition of the township’s wastewater system, we were disappointed to read your unbalanced coverage of this important issue (Toilet to Tap: Sewer sales debates continue across region, May 4, 2023).
Had your reporter reached out to us for comment, we would have shared why we believe selling the wastewater system to Pennsylvania American Water is in the best interests of the residents of Towamencin. We also could have shared that over the course of two well-advertised open houses, in which residents were invited to come learn about the sale, less than two dozen people voiced their opposition – in a township of 18,000 residents.
More than providing residents with quality sewage service performed by an experienced operator, the sale is an investment in our future which will fund many township initiatives to reinvest in our community for years to come. Sale proceeds will jump-start key public works projects, such as improving our parks and open spaces. It will allow us to better sustain and upgrade our fire service infrastructure to keep our residents safe and provide us with the funds needed to deal with stormwater management without imposing an annual fee on our residents. Keeping up with environmental regulations is of paramount concern to us. Our system is older and will have challenges meeting ever increasing regulatory requirements. We feel PAWC is best equipped to remedy these issues promptly and efficiently. And, perhaps most importantly, the sale to PAWC eliminates the need for near-term tax increases.
We are confident that Pennsylvania American Water will adhere to Pennsylvania DEP quality standards and provide strong service to our community. They are widely regarded for their operation of wastewater systems, customer service, and environmental stewardship, and have a proven history of working collaboratively with local elected officials like us to deliver long-term solutions for water and wastewater utility services. It’s the definition of a win-win.
That is a story we would have been proud to share. If only we had been asked.
Chuck Wilson, Rich Marino, Laura Smith, Kristin WarnerTowamencin Township Supervisors
Published in the Reporter on May 10, 2023
