The Resolution below was unanimously adopted by Doylestown Borough Council at their August 15, 2022 meeting:

RESOLUTION NO. 2022-11

BOROUGH OF DOYLESTOWN
BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE SALE OF THE BUCKS COUNTY WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY'S SEWER ASSETS TO AQUA PENNSYLVANIA

WHEREAS, Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) provides services to about 100,000 households, nearly one third of the County population, in 31
municipalities and is the largest single provider of water and sewer services in the County; and,

WHEREAS, BCWSA is considering an offer from Aqua to purchase its sewer assets for $1.1 billion dollars; and,

WHEREAS, Aqua's rates are set through ratemaking procedures before the
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and Aqua has a history of increasing its sewer rates substantially, including those municipalities which sold their private wastewater systems to Aqua including Limerick Township whose rates increased 82%, East Bradford Township whose rates increased 64%, Cheltenham Township whose rates increased 65%, East Norriton Township whose rates increased 57% and New Garden Township whose rates increased 53%; and,

WHEREAS, at a time when costs are increasing for all Bucks County residents, through no fault of our local elected officials, residents can scarcely afford an increase in sewer fees; and,

WHEREAS, Doylestown Borough Council believes it is unconscionable for BCWSA to sell its sewer assets to Aqua as the long term financial impacts that major increases in sewer rates will have on the residents and businesses being served and on Bucks County in general; and,

WHEREAS, Wastewater services such as those provided by BCWSA are essential to protecting the environment and it is imperative that those services be provided at cost effective and reasonable fee structures; and

WHEREAS, privatization of BCWSA's sewer assets ultimately results in negative
impacts for local municipalities and their residents.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that Doylestown Borough Council is opposed to the sale of BCWSA's sewer assets to Aqua, Pennsylvania, and implores BCWSA to abandon negotiations with Aqua and to continue to operate as an independent, nonprofit agency.

FURTHER, Doylestown Borough Council respectfully implores the County
Commissioners to take all reasonable and necessary steps to compel BCWSA to
abandon its negotiations and to continue operating as an independent, nonprofit agency, as intended when it was created in 1962 by the Bucks County Commissioners. If there is no other recourse, we believe the County should disband the BCWSA and take over the sewer assets and operation of the sewer system until a public entity is found to sell the system to.