To varying degrees, these partnerships seek out the benefits of the private, competitive marketplace while retaining the benefits of public ownership and management. For drinking water and wastewater systems, this often means retaining public ownership while hiring a private firm to manage operations and maintenance.
Cost savings resulting from private operation and maintenance can be substantial.
Reductions in these costs could dramatically affect the rates MWRA charges. The only sure way to do so is to solicit bids from private operators. As a legislative matter, this proposal has no down-side. The MWRA Board of Directors would not be bound by the recommendation, but bidders would be bound by their bids. Thus, there is no risk to the Commonwealth or the MWRA associated with this legislation, and there is great potential for savings to ratepayers.