Hamilton Hamilton Water Watch applauds the City of Hamiltons Public Works Infrastructure and Environmental Committees decision to accept a recommendation made by City staff, to bring back the operation and maintenance of the Citys water and waste treatment systems.
While we wait for the final word from Council as a whole on Wednesday, we are encouraged by the show of support by the standing committee, says Grant Ranalli, Chair of Hamilton Water Watch. Water is an essential resource that should not be left in the hands of profit-seeking companies. Bringing water operations back to the city is a first step in restoring faith to water delivery in Hamilton after citizens experienced raw sewage spills, malfunctioning equipment, and musical chairs of private ownership of our water systems in the past.
The standing committee will make its recommendation to Council on Wednesday, September 15th, when Councillors will vote on it. Hamilton Water Watch is urging Hamilton residents to contact their local councillors and register their support for bringing back the operation of water and wastewater systems under public control.
Hamilton Water Watch is a coalition of faith, environmental and labour groups. The group has been calling on the City to resume operation of water and wastewater systems ever since Council began to consider its options at the end of the American Water Services contract.
The RFP process showed that private companies wanted a risk-free profit scheme on the backs of the taxpayers, says John Shymko of the Hamilton Council of Canadians. On Wednesday, Council must demonstrate that they will do the right thing and show the citizens that our City is prepared and willing to manage and operate water and waste treatment systems with the highest public standards and with the public good at heart.
-30-
For more information, please call:
Grant Ranalli
Chair of Hamilton Water Watch
(905) 525-9009
John Shymko
Council of Canadians, Hamilton Branch
(905) 544-6868 home, (905) 333-4132 work