Water. We need it to live. Should we all own this valuable resource, or should private companies own our water? That question will be asked all over this state in the wake of two private companies passing one of the nation’s most substantial water-privatization laws here in Illinois.

Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water (IAW) succeeded in lobbying state lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 3051 in the fall of 2018. Aqua and IAW can now crisscross our state offering cash-strapped municipalities top dollar for their systems, all the while the ratepayers of Aqua and IAW will pay for their expansion.

Since the companies’ legislation took effect on June 1 of this year, the two companies have already filed for four acquisitions with the Illinois Commerce Commission. Those four acquisitions are scheduled to cost the ratepayers of the two companies $11.35 million, and the companies are likely just getting started. As I write this, their agents are knocking on the doors of Illinois municipalities, dazzling them with big money for water systems that are fully depreciated and in need of investment.

Private Water cites their “compliance with regulatory standards,” yet in University Park, Illinois, thousands of Aqua’s customers cannot use their water. Aqua detected high lead levels, apparently told no one, and now the community has been without water for months. Four Aqua employees have been suspended, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the company.

So much for private water making us safer and our water cleaner, I guess.

There is a bill in Springfield that would allow you a vote before your community could privatize its water and/or sewer system. House Bill 2392, sponsored by Rep. John Connor, would allow a referendum so the current owners of a municipal water system, the people that live in the community, would have a voice in the future of an asset critical to their lives. Please contact your state representative and senator and let them know you support HB 2392.

Bryan McDaniel is Director of Governmental Affairs for the Citizens Utility Board, based in Chicago.