November 20, 2008

Goerie.com

‘Amazing.” In one word, Jim Rudy, retired head of the Erie Water Authority, summed up his reaction to news that the Millcreek Township Water Authority might build its own water treatment plant.

By “amazing,” Rudy did not mean “wonderful.” He meant that it’s senseless for the Millcreek Township Water Authority to even consider building a water treatment plant from scratch.

We agree.

Rudy posted his comments on our Web site, GoErie, after he read George Miller’s story revealing the development Sunday. Rudy, who now lives in South Carolina, retired as chief operating officer for the Erie Water Authority in early 2003.

“This is truly an amazing story,” Rudy wrote. “I would not have believed it if I had not read it myself. A regional system makes sense, even if the Millcreek system is leased to Erie Water Works. Economy of scale with one system operating both systems saves dollars and labor and avoids duplication of management and system operators and purchase of system operating supplies.”

The report that Millcreek Township Water Authority has spent $47,000 for an engineering study also is stunning because of the timing.

Just weeks ago, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership announced that it would market Erie’s water system to attract new business. Economic development specialists stress that a regional water system is part of that business-attraction plan.

It’s also odd that the study is being done more than five years after a possible merger was first announced.

This also isn’t a case in which the city is trying to foist something on the suburbs. Erie Water Works is leased from the city and operated by an independent authority. The merger idea has broad support from current and former Millcreek Township officials, community leaders and business executives. “The Millcreek Water Authority is clearly a duplication of service and unnecessarily costly to its customers,” Joy Greco, a former longtime county councilwoman representing Millcreek, wrote in a 2005 letter to the editor supporting the merger.

Erie County Controller Sue Weber, also a former township supervisor, is just as blunt now. “It’s a foolish waste of money,” Weber said about the engineering study to determine if Millcreek should build a treatment plant. Weber and Supervisor Brian McGrath are also skeptical that the state Department of Environmental Protection would approve a new water plant because Erie’s water treatment plant currently operates about 60 percent below capacity.

The impetus to merge the systems comes from both residents and businesses, who are fed up that Millcreek Water Authority customers pay 60 to 70 percent more for their water than Erie customers do. It’s the same water.

“I think it’s completely unfair,” said Louis Arcovio, 81, in a 2007 interview. His water rates soared when he moved within Millcreek’s boundaries and switched to the Millcreek Township Water Authority from Erie Water Works. He and other disgruntled ratepayers have a Web site, www.cheapercleanerwater.com, to make the case for the merger. The Erie system serves about 10,000 customers in Millcreek; the Millcreek system serves about 6,000.

Millcreek water customers are tired of throwing money down the drain. We’re weary of seeing government miss a chance to be more efficient.

Does the Millcreek Township Water Authority hear the drip, drip, drip of discouragement? It would if it was listening.