As communities across the country confront infrastructure challenges, rising costs, and climate-related stress on water supplies, one truth remains constant: the public ownership of drinking water systems continues to be a model that delivers transparency, accountability, and long-term value for ratepayers.

Nationwide, local governments and authorities own and operate over 31,000 community water systems, providing drinking water to nearly 270 million people.

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) represents the nation’s largest publicly owned drinking water systems, whose members serve more than 160 million people. Our members exemplify the strength of the public model, delivering safe, affordable, and reliable water while maintaining strong public oversight and reinvesting in critical infrastructure.

From coast to coast, more than 80% of Americans receive their drinking water from public systems, which are embedded in the communities they serve. These public utilities, unlike corporate water utility owners, operate without the pressure of having to deliver shareholder profits, enabling them to focus on long-term planning, sustainability, and affordability. Rates are generally lower than those charged by private counterparts, and decisions are made by elected officials or appointed boards accountable not to shareholders, but to residents.

Public ownership often facilitates operational efficiencies through integration with other municipal services, and enables local leaders to reinvest dollars back into the system for maintenance, upgrades, or programs that support affordability and accessibility.

In addition, public utilities often achieve strong regulatory compliance. For instance, a study in Virginia found that monitoring and reporting violations were 90% more likely in privately owned community water systems than in publicly owned ones.

While AMWA affirms that each community should be empowered to choose the governance model that best meets its needs, we believe that the public ownership model is uniquely equipped to ensure that water systems serve the public interest over the long term. Public water systems are not viewed as assets to be bought or sold but as vital public goods that require stewardship and investment.

In Connecticut, the recent proposal to transition Aquarion Water Company into a publicly owned authority presents an opportunity to reflect on these principles. While AMWA generally refrains from commenting on individual ownership transitions, we support the broader effort to strengthen public water system ownership where it aligns with local goals of transparency, affordability, and sustainability.

Connecticut already benefits from high-performing public utilities like our member, South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA), recipient of our Gold, Platinum, and Sustainable utility management awards, denoting demonstrated excellence and leadership through strong performance and innovation in utility management operations. The new publicly owned Aquarion Water Authority would operate in cooperation with the well-established RWA.

AMWA strongly supports these models to show what’s possible when water is managed carefully and responsibly as a public trust.

Tom Dobbins is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies in Washington, D.C.