Albany, NY — Today, the Cuomo administration announced a step forward in the public takeover of American Water’s Long Island water systems, which the company has proposed selling to Liberty Utilities, a Canadian corporation. The Governor directed the Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection at the New York State Department of Public Service to conduct a feasibility study about the municipalization of Long Island’s largest privately-owned water company.

Research conducted by Food & Water Watch has documented a litany of problems associated with corporate ownership of water systems compared to public systems, including:

• Loss of control and lack of public input, transparency, and accountability
• Higher rates and increased operating and other costs
• Worse service, inadequate investment and deteriorating systems

In response to the governor’s move toward public water on Long Island, Food & Water Watch Senior Organizer Eric Weltman issued the following statement:

“Long Island residents have learned a bitter lesson that corporate control of our most vital resources is a dangerous and costly mistake. The pandemic is a painful reminder that the Cuomo administration has a moral obligation to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable water. Long Island residents deserve and need public control over the drinking water they rely upon.”

Contact: Phoebe Galt – [email protected]

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