Baltimore, MD —  On Monday, the Maryland State Legislature passed legislation (SB 880) to establish the Baltimore Regional Water Governance Task Force. Community organizations, environmentalists, and labor unions are expressing concerns over the passage of the bill, warning that it could start the process leading to the privatization of the water and sewer system and threaten other protections for workers and families.

The legislation charges the new task force with reviewing the governance model for the Baltimore water and sewer system to inform enacting legislation as early as next year. Without strong public protections, a state-established regional authority could strike down key programs to provide water affordability credits, protect against water shutoffs, establish a Customer Advocate’s office, and prevent privatization. Additionally, Baltimore city and county workers who provide this vital service to our community would face an uncertain future if the system is privatized or placed under a new management system.

The legislation passed without any amendment, despite concerns raised by advocates. Sen. Mary Washington had offered an amendment to prevent all forms of privatization of the water and sewer system, including private operation and management, but it was removed due in large part to opposition from the County, with the City’s agreement.

“The public deserves a say in the future of our water and sewer system,” said Mary Grant, the Public Water for All Campaign Director at Food & Water Watch. “We appreciate Senator Mary Washington’s attempt to protect our vital system from a corporate takeover. The opposition to the anti-privatization amendment is alarming, despite officials’ nominal statements against  private ownership of the system. We fear County officials want to leave the door open to private operation and management of our system, which would worsen our water crises. Because the legislation lacks guardrails to protect the public, it is more important than ever that the task force hears and incorporates the voices of low-income residents and workers.”

“Water is our most basic necessity, and the impacts of this study will have immense consequences for Baltimoreans, and everyone served by the City’s Department of Public Works,” said Rianna Eckel, Baltimore Water Outreach Coordinator with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. “Unfortunately, this process and the final bill have not treated the task at hand with the deference that is needed. We call on the task force to ensure that our water system remains publicly operated, democratically controlled, and that existing local protections like the Water4All affordability program and the water shut-off moratorium are upheld.”

“We represent city water and wastewater workers who have been working 10, 15, and in some cases 20 years in service to the city and its residents to provide vital water resources to our community,” said Maxine Holmes, Labor Relations Specialist with the City Union of Baltimore, Local 800. “While we agree many improvements need to be made to our systems, we worry that employee views and years of service will be completely discarded as this new task force considers changing the management structure of our water and wastewater utilities.”

As the legislature moves forward with the process of selecting Task Force members, local organizations want lawmakers to ensure that individuals are selected who represent low-income ratepayers and union workers. In addition, advocates want the task force to conduct racial and economic equity assessments, hold public hearings and a robust comment period, and exclude privatization options that would undermine local control and conflict with water affordability laws. 

While the goal of improving access to safe and affordable water and wastewater treatment is important, critics warn that the task force may not address systemic problems – especially the lack of funding – that have plagued the city’s services for decades.