Protect Our Water is a community-led mission to defeat current proposed legislation that would allow private corporations to purchase public, not-for-profit utilities.
Each year, corporations attempt to privatize municipal utilities through targeted legislative campaigns to lawmakers. Private companies often position the legislation as a solution to municipal budget problems. The same is true with Tennessee’s proposed legislation, House Bill 1281 and Senate Bill 1414, which targets not-for-profit utilities including our local water providers. The legislation is spearheaded by Tennessee American Water and parent company, American Water of New Jersey. Private water operators leverage the sale as a budget boost and promise for better service, cleaner water and more transparent rates.
Other states that have taken this route will tell you, privatization destroys municipal utilities.
Corporate control of utilities signals a losing battle for you, the customer. Customers lose input on significant rate increases and key decisions. Customers lose transparency. Customers lose accountability. Customers lose face-to-face interaction.
Customers lose control.
Tennessee has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes made by other states that have allowed private companies to take over local systems. This is especially important for the most vital resource we have: our water.
Sign our petition and join us in the fight to Protect Our Water!
Water Privatization: Facts and Figures / FoodandWaterWatch.org
Our Local Utilities
Eastside, Hixson, North West, Savannah Valley and Walden’s Ridge Utility Districts offer everything a private company will not. Utilities are operated and managed by residents who live in each district, keeping neighbors’ best interests at heart. Utilities are not pressured by shareholders to raise rates to meet financial goals. Utilities are 100% committed to customers.