MIDDLESEX WATER CO

We invite you to check out this Consumer Education Video Series narrated by MWC’s Assistant Director of Production, Mark Theiler. Learn about everything from The Treatment Process to Understanding Changing Drinking Water Regulations. The Treatment Process: A Multi-Step Approach to Producing Safe Drinking Water Understanding Changing Drinking Water Regulations The Safe Drinking Water Act: Why it’s Important! The Capital and Operating Costs of Providing Safe Water

Where’s the Fairness in “Fair Market Value?” Artificially Inflated System Valuations Will Cost Ratepayers Even More PEGGY GALLOS, DENNIS W. DOLL | JULY 23, 2021 | OPINION As the co-authors of this article, we disagree concerning the costs and benefits of private versus public ownership and operation of water and wastewater utilities. The emergence, however, of the so-called “Fair Market Value” approach to determining the value of a public utility, and its detrimental impact in our view on both the ratemaking authority of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and ultimately customers, is so concerning that despite our different views, we are aligned in our opposition to this approach, which in recent years has gained, and continues to gain, traction in New Jersey. Some context - New Jersey’s Water Infrastructure Protection Act (WIPA) was enacted in 2015 and allows municipal water and wastewater utilities to enter into a long-term lease or outright sale of the utility assets to a capable owner and operator of a private (investor-owned), or public (government-owned) utility system. WIPA eliminated the requirement for a public referendum for the lease or sale of a municipal utility system if one of five “emergent conditions” is met, as certified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. WIPA is a version of so-called “Fair Market Value (FMV)” legislation. This legislation allows non-traditional methods for valuing utility systems which artificially inflates the value of these systems to the detriment of customers. FMV legislation has been enacted in some form in recent years in numerous states around the country and it merits closer review from the lens of the customer. As FMV legislation has emerged in more states, it has received increased scrutiny from legislators, consumer advocates and others as the true financial impact of these transactions on utility customers is becoming more widely understood. WIPA, in particular, comes with serious consequences for utility regulators and for utility customers themselves. The law limits regulators’ ability to set traditionally just and reasonable rates and that, in turn, means potentially higher costs for the utility customers themselves. Public entities sell their utilities for a variety of reasons. Some have to do with the utility itself, and they are all pretty standard. Selling is seen as a way to address 1) a need for significant investment in aging utility infrastructure, 2) compliance with current and anticipated water quality laws and regulations and other operational needs, 3) an aging workforce and the need for qualified employees and/or 4) mounting costly regulatory violations. Elected leaders may be unwilling to commit to managing and funding their utility because they lack the political “courage” to take the necessary steps to fund these challenges or because they simply don’t know they can pursue other approaches. Well-managed, well-funded utilities can also be sold because elected leaders who control them want to use the infusions of cash that come with these transactions to address other, more visible non-utility needs such as roads, municipal facilities, or pension funding. They may wish to eliminate municipal debt. Monetizing the utility assets may be an attractive solution to avoid dramatic increases in the near term in user fees or property taxes, which may be politically unpalatable. So where does FMV come into the picture? Take the case of an acquisition of a publicly-owned system by a private entity. The NJBPU regulates and approves the rates charged to customers of privately-owned utilities under a “regulatory compact” which balances the needs of both the customers and the privately-owned ut

Attention Delaware Residents: Do acronyms such as H2O, Cl2, WTP and CCR only serve to confuse and overwhelm you? You’re not alone.  These acronyms are simply abbreviations for terms commonly used in the water industry, and stand for water, chlorine, water treatment plant and consumer confidence report, respectively. Oftentimes, jargon used outside of the industry is not well understood, which is why some consumers may be compelled to disregard information if it appears to be too complicated. As a property owner of real estate, you may periodically receive a letter from Middlesex Water Company affiliate, Tidewater Utilities (TUI) in reference to a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). Take a moment to understand the value of the often misinterpreted CPCN program. While not specific to the water industry, the history of CPCN’s date back to the late 1800’s when they were first developed to prevent duplication of services, protect investments through rate regulation and balance the social and organizational goals of society.  They also helped to manage competition, and avoid the targeting of specific customers based on their geography.   To summarize, the goal of a CPCN program is to make services accessible to the public in a fair and equitable manner for all parties. In order for TUI to supply water to a property, it must first be granted the water rights to serve that property by the governing regulatory agency. The agency will only approve the right to serve each parcel to one organization, giving the grantor the legal right to serve in perpetuity, unless a petition to withdraw is presented and approved. Who Does a CPCN Affect? If you reside within town limits you are likely served by the town’s public water system. The town already holds the rights or the CPCN to serve your property. Similarly, if you live in a subdivision with an established water supply, the related steps to secure the CPCN was most likely sorted out during the development phase of your community. If, however, you live outside of the town limit or independent of a subdivision, you may not have encountered the need for a CPCN because you may have a private well. If a private water supply is already located in your area or you anticipate that connecting to a private supply might be advantageous in the future, having the administrative steps of the CPCN process completed will expedite the connection if and once you decide you want to connect with that water service. Applying for a CPCN Securing a CPCN with TUI is easy. As previously mentioned, you may receive a letter or you can access the petition online. Complete the petition and make sure that the legal owner(s) of the parcel(s) sign in order to validate the petition. Return the signed original petition to us and we will perform the next steps which include filing the request with the governing agency, publishing a public notice and responding to questions, if applicable. The governing agency will grant/deny approval and we will notify you accordingly. If you sell your property after the CPCN has been approved, the water rights to serve your parcel remains with us and does not dissolve with the transfer of ownership. At any point in the future, if infrastructure is available, you may connect by completing a water service application and remitting the applicable fees. It is important to note that we cannot guarantee service will be available to you, even if the CPCN is granted, nor will you be required to connect once water mains are established. Plan Your Future Water Needs The CPCN program is designed to ensure that there are adequate facilities to meet demand, provide affordable rates by leveraging economies of scale and encourage sensible investments in infrastructure. Furthermore, consumers on a pr

The American Water Works Association designates the first week of May each year as Drinking Water Week. This year’s theme, “There When You Need It”, pays tribute to the importance of water in our daily existence, the infrastructure in place to deliver water to your home and the scores of water professionals who work nonstop to make certain your tap water is readily available. As we kick-off Drinking Water Week, we encourage you to get know your H2O. Food nutrition labels, required by the United States Food and Drug Administration, provide specific information such as serving size, calories and nutrients contained in the product. The labels offer information about the foods we eat to encourage us to make knowledgeable decisions about what we consume. Similarly, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Water Drinking Act of 1996, among other things, requires all public water systems to provide an annual drinking water quality report, formally known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The annual distribution of the CCR by Middlesex Water Company (MWC) and its Affiliates serves to ensure that our customers know what is in their drinking water and where it comes from, as well as to comply with EPA regulations. It is our commitment that we deliver water that meets and in some cases, is better than, the standards established by the EPA. Within the CCR you will find information such as where your water comes from, a list of regulated contaminants (if applicable) and level detected from your source as well as health effects information. MWC and its affiliates rigorously test and monitor our water supply and distribution systems to help ensure that the water we deliver to your home and/or business meets state and federal drinking water guidelines. The information in the CCR is tailored specifically to your water supply and source, providing transparency about the water being delivered to your premise daily, 24/7, 365 days a year. Also included in your CCR is general information pertaining to special populations such as pregnant women, children and individuals with compromised immune systems. In addition, you can learn more about what kinds of substances may be found in source water before it is treated. One interesting fact is that some contaminants are not exclusive to tap water, they can also be found in bottled water. Regardless of your drinking water source, the presence of contaminants does not automatically result in a health risk and guidelines for regulated contaminants are established by the EPA. You should keep in mind that for some contaminants, there is no maximum contaminant level defined because the EPA has not yet determined the level that poses a public health risk. And lastly, the EPA is actively analyzing some contaminants to establish benchmarks for public health. MWC actively monitors federal and state regulations and changing standards and is prepared to respond and modify treatment in line with new regulations as they are established. Water utilities have long been viewed as protectors of public health, ensuring high quality drinking water to meet your daily needs for consumption, cooking, and cleanliness.  We view ourselves as more than your drinking water provider, we are your community partner, working to protect your interest and investing in our systems to sustain them for the next generation. In fact, this last year has reinforced our belief that delivering reliable water services is absolutely critical to the health, hygiene and quality of life of those we serve. Just like a nutrition label, the CCR is made available to provide you with knowledge and disclose possible health risks so you can be an informed consumer. In accordance with EPA guidelines, the 2020 CCR will be available to you by July 1, 2021. Until then, we invite you to learn more about your water supply by reading the current CCR, which can be found by visiting <a href="https://www.middl

The business of bringing potable water to your doorstep is the end result of a highly regulated and well planned process executed by teams of skilled professionals. While drinking water is vital to sustain life, it is also an essential component in practically every industry resulting in the delivery of their product or service. Middlesex Water Company is proud to serve thousands of commercial and industrial users who rely on our ability to provide a safe and continuous water supply necessary for the production of their goods or services. It is common to think of water usage as it relates to domestic users for drinking, bathing, cooking and flushing toilets, but let’s not overlook the importance of water as a function of industry and the resulting impact on our economy. The manufacturing and production footprint of many commodities include a water element. Food and beverage processing plants, agriculture, textiles, and automotive manufacturing are some of more recognized industries that depend on water in the production process. For instance, consider the production of one loaf of bread. The production process uses about 240 gallons of water. In some cases, water is used indirectly to fabricate, cool, dilute or remove by products as a result of processing. Manufacturing one car uses approximately 39,000 gallons of water even though water is not a direct component of the car itself. The necessity of a continuous water supply is even greater when considering the critical role it plays in less obvious ways. Water is often used in cooling towers for heat exchange to service office buildings and hospitals to provide climate control. Thermoelectric power plants, which produce nearly 90% of the electricity produced in the United States, use water to generate steam, cooling and condensing steam after it is used to power turbines and for scrubbing air pollutants. Hydroponics, an up and coming method for growing crops without soil, uses nutrient-rich water to grow fruit and vegetable bearing plants. While it is true that some of these applications may adjust the chemistry of the water for a specific use, for example raising or lowering pH, the backbone of the source comes from the natural resource of water. At Middlesex Water Company we do not take our role for granted in contributing to the health, welfare and economy of the communities we serve. We are proud to support residential consumers, the coffee shop down the road and commercial users whose operations greatly depend on water from the tap. More than ever, we are humbled to carry out our mission of providing service in the water, wastewater and related fields in a safe, reliable and efficient manner. Do not underestimate the simplicity of water, all it does for us or the various ways it can be used to sustain life.  After all, we are sixty percent made of water.

American scholar and anthropologist, Loren Eiseley once said “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” Historically, water has been symbolic of countless beliefs but scientifically, we know that without water there is no life. For 123 years, Middlesex Water Company (MWC) has been a trusted supplier of water utility services. This year, more than ever, our company has been reminded not only of the important role that water plays in public health protection, but also, the critical importance of those who keep the magic flowing -- the dedicated employees who ensure essential services. We also gained greater appreciation for acts of kindness, compassion and generosity in the most uncertain of times. The power of gratitude redirects our attention to what we do have and can do, as opposed to what we don’t have, can’t control or wish for. Oftentimes we take the simplicities of life for granted but 2020 was a stark reminder that it’s the little things that count.  "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Robert Brault  As the health of the world and our Country became infected with the novel coronavirus, we learned to adjust and adapt, find new strengths and help each other endure and overcome adversity.  We are so proud of our team who rallied and continue to rally in so many different ways to maintain essential services, support our business, each other and our community. We are thankful for our people who genuinely care about the work they perform and the people with whom they interact. As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, take a peek at our gratitude journal to get an inside look at what else we are thankful for: Dedicated essential employees who help ensure ongoing, reliable utility services Over a century of water industry leadership and management experience Our ability as an industry to contribute to the protection and maintenance of public health Providing jobs for our employees and contract partners The opportunity to support our valued customers through this crisis The generosity of our employees in supporting our charity endeavors Trusted relationships with regulators, municipal partners, developers and contractors Shareholders whose investments allow us to upgrade and maintain our systems Professional and versatile employees who quickly adapted to the “new normal” Greater system reliability and resiliency for future generations through our Water for Tomorrow infrastructure program This is a time of great uncertainty.  But reflecting on gratitude helps us to appreciate the here and now and all those we are privileged to serve.  We’ve learned we are capable of achieving far more that we imagined possible and have found strength in adversity, better positioning us to face what comes next. As we focus on the positive, we salute the resilient spirit and resolve of our people.  We give thanks for their passion and their commitment and purpose that will continue to guide us forward through this pandemic and beyond.

Essential Employees Keep Water Flowing By Dennis W. Doll The first full week of May each year is designated Drinking Water Week by the American Water Works Association. During this week, special attention is given to water professionals to recognize the critical role water plays in the daily lives of individuals. Every day people rely on safe drinking water not only for nourishment, but for sanitation, fire protection, hygiene, cooking and more. Despite the current pandemic shaping a new path for conducting work, many water professionals continue to perform their jobs, seamlessly, expertly and confidently all in an effort to ensure your water is there when you need it. Middlesex Water Company is extraordinarily appreciative to their indispensable workforce that is providing continuous water service to our communities. These essential men and women protect our water supply, maintain necessary infrastructure, ensure water quality compliance and make emergency repairs around the clock. Their work is never complete and they are prepared to mobilize on short notice. Because of our workforce’s boundless dedication and relentless commitment, Middlesex Water has been able to bring continuity and normalcy to the homes of our customers during a time that is anything but normal. We hope that our team members and all water industry professionals understand the magnitude of gratitude and respect we have for them, not just this week, but each and every day. &nbsp;