Issues of City water privatization continue to concern residents

Spreading the dialogue begun in the 32nd Ward Community Forum about Chicago's water supply into the 1st Ward, Citizens Act to Protect Our Water (CAPOW) in cooperation with the 1st Ward Alderman Joe Moreno held a meeting at the St. Mary's Nazareth Family Center.

Residents expressed anger about previous municipal privatization actions such as parking, the harbors and highways. They complained about the lack of transparency in decision-making, and the excessive cost increases, and poor services that have resulted.

They urged 1st Ward Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno to make sure that privatization does not happen with the City water supply. Emily Carroll from Food and Water Watch gave examples of other municipalities such as Atlanta, Bolingbrook and Champaign-Urbana where privatization has occurred and where the municipalities are now trying to get out of their contracts.

Problems with those service providers included large cost over-runs, poor service, and fast termination of service resulting in public health problems.

Moreno indicated that he had not heard of any specific details of plans to privatize Chicago's water. Further, in his opinion "water is a precious asset which is inherently not appropriate for privatization." Believing in a proactive approach to situations, he explained that he is in favor of education and incenting people to take specific positive actions rather then setting up rules and punishments.

He expressed interest in having public meetings with residents in the 1st Ward and even combining with the 32nd to provide a proactive way to address such things as water management.

Several residents voiced concerns for the water supply being affected by the dumping of pharmaceuticals and chemicals into the river. Many believe that there is an urgent need for action such as accurate testing of the water supply to determine what trace chemicals are present and whether the City has the ability to clean pharmaceuticals out of our water supply.  In addition, they felt it important to identify of locations which will accept used drugs for disposal.

Notice of the second meeting will be given by CAPOW and the Alderman's office.