AWWA JAW39565

In recent years drinking water utilities have faced increasingly difficult challenges in their role of protecting public health and providing affordable drinking water of adequate quality and quantity. This requires a continuing search for new and more efficient ways to provide service. Some utilities are considering contracting out certain elements of their operations to private firms. Another efficiency may be to increase the competitive position of the public utility itself. The healthiest situation may be for both public and private approaches to exist within the industry and provide ongoing competition. Includes figure.