Water utilities are often known as the silent service. We turn on the tap and there it is; good, safe, clean water in ample supply. Do you know what entity provides that water? Is it provided by a private, regulated water utility, or a regional water authority, or by the local city or town government?

In Flint, Michigan, where high levels of lead contamination were found, water was provided by the city. The city alone controlled the budget, revenues and operation of the utility and was solely responsible for compliance with state and federal drinking water standards. They messed up and now thousands of people have been exposed to lead poisoning in their drinking water.

Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Do you know if local budget constraints could affect the viability, safety and financial health of your water supply? Maybe if you ingest the product of that utility, you should know those answers.

Marshall Chiaraluce

Mystic