Water, the Magazine of the National Association of Water Companies
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VOLUME 36 NUMBER 1 SPRING 1995 The Magazine of Ihe Nalional Associalion of Waler Companies OFFICERS STAFF CONTENTS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD James B. Groff President's Message ......... 3 Executive Director J. James Barr NAWC History, 1921-1946, American Water Works Company Sharon L. Gascon by T. Ward Welsh ..... 8 Deputy Executive Direc tor PRESIDENT NAWC Conference at the Ja ck E. McGregor Michael J. Horner Crescent City ............... 16 Bridgeport Hydraulic Company Director of Administration and Testimony of the NAWC Before the Membership 1st VICE PRESIDENT Subcommittee on Government Ronald S. Dungan Louis Jenny Management, Information and Unit ed Water Management and Director of Congressional Relations Technology Concerning Services, Incorporated Jean Lew is Privatization Impediments Administrative Manager and Codification of GENERAL VICE PRESIDENTS Executive Otder 12803, Robert A. Luk sa Bonita J. Hayden by Donald L. Correll ......... 20 Philadelphia Suburban Water Company Finance Manager Regionalizatio n/Collsolidation of Audra Zellner Fl oyd E. Wicks Water Systems in Missouri, Executive Assistant Southern California Water Company by Bill L. Sankpill and Laura Goodw in James A. Merciel ............ 22 Eugene H. Owen Secretary/ Federal and Baton Rouge Water Company T he Financial Challenge of Congressional Relations Water Utilities, Robert A. Dolson by Dr. Ahmed Ka loko ........ 24 Continental Water Company T hank You, NAWC!, A Testimonial, SECRETARY by Michael Baker. 33 James B. Groff Executive Director's Report. 34 TREASURER Regulatory Relations Report. 35 Sharon L. Gascon Recent Regulatory Decisions. 38 New Members ................ 40 Customer Service Report 41 Copyright 1989, National Association of Water Companies. Quorum Call ............. ... 44 The articles printed in this magazine do not necessar ily represent the position of the National Association Federal Agency Notes ...... • . .. 48 of Water Companies. NAWC disclaims responsibility for all information provided by inclividu<l\ authors or About the Coverl The gazebo at Pennsylvania Gas Corporate Changes ...... .. ... 49 organizations and published in WATER magazine, and Water Co.'s Accessible Fishing Pier on Lake including technical information which should be in Scranton. (see article, page 41) Etcetera .................... 51 dependently verified by separate sources. WATER-Published four times each year by the National Association of Water Companies, Suite 1212, 1725 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006. NAWC is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to serving the needs of the investor-owned state.regulated, public water supply industry. WATER is circulflted to all Active and Associate Members of the Association, members and staff of public utility commissions, federal and state officials concerned with our industry and will be sent to qualified persons upon written request. Requests and changes of address should be sent to NAWC, Suite 1212, 1725 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006 (202) 833·8383. _3 The President's Message by Jack E. McGregor n March 29,1995, itwas announced ata press ment agency to achieve optimum results in protecting conference in Washington that the NAWC drinking water supplies. Ohas agreed to participate in "The Partnership for Safe Water." This innovative, voluntary This decidedly assertive attempt at vol program encourages water utilities using untary self-assessment, self-regulation and surface water supplies to take steps de· compliance in advance of regulations, wi ll signed to optimize filtration processes and help to ensure public confidence in our ef to increase the removal of microbial patho· forts to improve water treatment. By join gens. These strategic actions are designed ing the partnership, you might well improve to improve the quality and safety of sur yo ur company's overall operations and be face water supplies around the country, in a better position to inform your custom help advance treatment objectives and, ers and the general public about your ef most importantly, improve customers' con forts. fidence and satisfaction in their drinking Most importantly, you will be helping to water. influence the course of future drinking The U .S. EPA and Administrator Carol Browner, water regulations. The partnership can be an effec who made the formal announcement, should be com tive tool in this regard, particularly in tandem with a mended for their leadership in this effort. More than strong government relations program at the federal, 260 utilities, representing a total population in excess state and local levels. of 80 million, have made initial commitments to par As I mentioned in my last column, government re ticipate in what is truly a trailblazing effort to further lations is not a spectator sport, and we need to do a safeguard the nation's drinking water supply. As part better job educating and informing our Congressional of the program, the participating water utilities wi ll representatives on issues affecting the industr y. I can assess their operating, maintenance and management not emphasize enough how critical it is that we com to make current treatment processes as protective as municate regularly with our federal legislators, espe they can be against microbial contamination, includ cially with the Safe Drinking Water Act up for ing G iardia and cryptosporidium. reauthorization. Special interest groups are present Beyond t he obvious benefits to the public that ing their opposing viewpoints with a wel l-orchestrated should result from the partnership, there are other lobbying and media relations campaign that is impugn important considerations for our industry. At a time ing the integrity and operations abi lities of our indus when certain public interest groups are attempting to try. discredit the public water supply industry, it is more I urge all of our members to demonstrate their com important than ever to become involved in efforts such mitment to water quality by taking part in the Part as this partnership, on both a national and local level. nership for Safe Water. By doing so, you will be fur As a genuine public-private initiative, the Partnership thering the best interests of your industry, your for Safe Water demonstrates a willingness on our part company and the customers you serve, a win-win-win to do the right t hing and work with the chief en fo rce- situation if ever there was one. 6 SPRING 1995 e The National Association of Wilter dent of the National Associiltion ofRegu NAWC at 202/833·8383. Companies celebrated its ce ntennial with latory Utility Commissioners. Addition NAWC's Government Relations Fly-In, a One Hund redth Anniversary Dinner, al(y, a member of Congressman Robert held during the week of February 27 held at the Great Hall of the Library of Matsui's staff accepted an award intended through March 3, involved more than 50 Congress in Washington, DC, on February for the Congressman , and Kathleen A. members of NAWC, who participated in 28, 1995. NAWC members, members of McGinty, Chair of the Council on Envi more than 150 appointments with Sena Congress, Commiss ioners <lnd Commission ronmental Quality, accepted an award on cors and Representatives. NAWC memo staff attended the event, held in one of the behalf of the Administration. bers addressed the key issues oflegisla tion most impress ive structures in Washington. Guests at the dinner, which was well to repea l the tax on Contributions In Aid The Dinner was held during a week that attended by current and past NAWC of· of Construction and reauthorization of also featured NAWC's fumual Govem ficers, as well as Honorary Members, were the Safe Drinking Water Act. Participants ment Relations Fly-In, as well as meetings add ressed by the Librarian of the Library noted that rhe Fly-In presented them with ofNAWC's Exc'Cutive Committee, Board of of Congress. Following a sumptuous din an opportunity to educate Icgisla tors Directors. Nominating Committee and ner, there was a musical presentation by the many of whom are new to Congress- on Small Companies Committee. Stereo Strings, who played well-known songs the important issues of the day. More than At the Di nner, awards we re given to relating to water. Prior to their departure, one participant was overheard saying that Congressman Bill Archer, the Chairman guests were given the opportunity for a be the current Congress seemed morc sensi of the House Ways and Means Commit hind-the·scenes tour of the Great Hall. A tive to the business-related problems of teej Congressman Tom BWey, the Chair commemorative poster fea turing 100 years O llf industry than past Congresses. man of the House Commerce Committee; of the industry in photographs was given to NAWC will continue to celebrate its former Congressman Bob Michel, ilnd guests as they left. NAWC has additional ce ntennial through the Annual Confer Commissioner Bob Anderson, the Presi- copies of the poster. To obtain one, call ence next Fall. • «» NAWCWATER (! to r) NAWC Chairman of the Board jim Barr (American Water Works (J to r) NAWC President jack McGregor (Bridgeport Hydraulic Co.) Service Co.) and Honorary Member Bob Gerber (United Water Resources) and Commissioner Keith Bissell (Tennessee Public Service Commission) (! to r) jim Barr and Honorary Members Tony Garnier (Suburban (J to r) jack McGregor and Commissioner William M. Nugent Water Co.) and Ralph Lindberg (California Water Service Co.) (Maine Public Utilities Commission) (! to r) jack McGregor, jim Gallagher (Southern California