Aquarion Services Company is the only bidder on a 20-year, $176 million contract with the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts to build and operate the wastewater treatment facility, currently run by the city of Holyoke and by city workers. Aquarion is owned by the Kelda Group, a UK-based corporation.
The push for Aquarion has included promises of great public savings and freedom from responsiblity, backed by threats of EPA fines and promising numbers from well-paid consultants like the self-proclaimed 'Quarterback of Privatization' Mr. Jack Lyons. The $millions$ of dollars of savings are served up to the ratepayers in the form of rate increases which will more than double current rates.
The benefits of the current public operation include local control and accountability, while the deal with Aquarion trades a public utility for the Kelda Group shareholders, whose sole demand is that Aquarion turn a profit. The easiest way for Aquarion to do that is to cut labor costs, and the city of Holyoke loses good civil service liveable-wage jobs and the benefits of city residents who work for the city. That relationship is destroyed when the workers transfer to Aquarion, and a century of public service jobs are erased.
The DPW has provided great service at reasonable rates since 1871. The DPW jobs are good local union jobs, and local control and accountability is with the city. Why sell off a slice to a corporation?. Read these stories of water privatization struggles in Lee and Lawrence, and the privatization fiascoes in Atlanta and New Orleans, Lynn and Camden and around the world, and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that citizens need local public control of utilities like water.
Read the proposed contract with Aquarion here...
More about RH White and Malcolm Pirnie.
NO CONTRACT WITH AQUARION!
No rate hike until we know what we are paying for!
Continue public operation and improvements to clean up the river!
Keep city jobs in Holyoke!
Take Action >>>
Attend City Council 7:30pm on Tuesdays
Contact Mayor Mike Sullivan: Telephone: 322-5510 Constituent: 539-9399
City Hall Room 1 Holyoke, MA 01040 Email: sullivam@ci.holyoke.ma.us
Contact Kelda and Aquarion.
Questions
Why is the US Conference of Mayors sponsored by Veolia, and why are the big private water corporations on the Mayors Urban Water Council along with Holyoke Mayor Mike Sullivan?
Mayor Sullivan's testimony in favor of water privatization on 3/13/02 before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment, espousing the virtues of privatization and using Lynn as an example. Did he forget the Inspector General's Report from 6/01? Did he
remember what happened in Lynn?
Lee
Breaking Loose in Lee Dierdre Consolati Op Ed Berkshire Eagle 9/28/04
Lawrence Hands Off Our Water Lawrence Citizens Group
Water Privatization is Wrong for Lawrence Tennis Lily
Privatization of Lee city water upsets many Eagle Tribune
Atlanta, GA Atlanta
New Orleans, LA New Orleans
Puerto Rico "A disaster": Vivendi in Puerto Rico
Montara, CA Tapwater Takeover
Global
Water for Profit - CBC
News articles
Councilor wary of sewer costs Republican 2/12/05
Board to discuss credit extension The Republican 1-23-05
Officials delay sewer decisions The Republican 1-20-05
Sewer Contract Debate ContinuesThe Chicopee Herald 1-19-05
Sewer contract standard sought The Republican 1-18-05
Holyoke debates sewers The Republican 1-16-05
Sewer contract plan debated The Republican 1-16-05
Holyoke sewer contract OK'd The Republican 12-21-04
Purchase of water supply eyed. Hampton Union 12.17.04
Holyoke citizens group offers alternative to privatization plan. HCOG Press Release 12/16/04
Letters to the Editor Hello Holyoke 12-15-04
Sewage plant pact cost lowered The Republican 12-14-04
Special board meeting scheduled The Republican 12-12-04
Sewer fee sent to finance panel The Republican 12-9-04
CRWC press release 12-8-04
Board proposes sewer fee hike The Republican 12-5-04
Mayor sets sights on fourth term The Republican 12-5-04
The Public Cost of Privatization The Boston Globe 12-3-04
Water, a vital source www.eldialogo.com
Works panel extends talks on takeover The Republican 11-30-04
Read the proposed contract with Aquarion here.
Contract to run sewers finalized The Republican 11-21-04
Contract on Water Valley Advocate 11-18-04
HCOG Press Release 11/16/04
HCOG Press Release 11-5-04
Foes of sewer pact to meet The Republican 11-14-04
Tentative Sewer Pact Assailed The Republican 11-11-04
Privatizing wastewater treatment plant plan flawed The Republican 11-10-04
Holyoke misses sewage deadline The Republican 11-7-04
EPA Orders Holyoke to clean up CSO's EPA 12.19.2000
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1.
Privatization Leads to Rate Increases
Privatization Leads to Rate Increases2.Privatization Undermines Water Quality
Privatization Undermines Water Quality3.Companies Are Accountable to Shareholders, Not Consumers
Companies Are Accountable to Shareholders, Not Consumers4.Privatization Fosters Corruption
Privatization Fosters Corruption5.Privatization Reduces Local Control and Public Rights
Privatization Reduces Local Control and Public Rights6.Private Financing Costs More than Government Financing
Private Financing Costs More than Government Financing7.Privatization Leads to Job Losses
Privatization Leads to Job Losses8.Privatization is Difficult to Reverse
Privatization is Difficult to Reverse9.Privatization Can Leave the Poor with No Access to Clean Water
Privatization Can Leave the Poor with No Access to Clean Water10. Privatization Would Open the Door for Bulk Water Exports
Resources on the debate over Water Privatization
Water Privatization: A Broken Promise ( pdf) Case Histories from Throughout the United States
Untapped Market from TomPaine.com
William Fuqua, Superintendent
63 Canal Street Holyoke, MA 01040 Office Hours: 8:30 a. m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone:413-322-5645 FAX: 413-539-6807 EMail: fuquaw@ci.holyoke.ma.us
