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Paulsboro officials weigh handing water service to American Water after briefing
Summary
Borough administrators told council members they met with American Water Company about possibly converting municipal water service, saying aging infrastructure and an expensive treatment plant make a third‑party option worth studying; any change would take 12–18 months or longer and requires council direction.
Administrator Vernon Marino told the council he and Mayor John Giovannitti met with American Water Company to discuss the possibility of converting the borough’s water service to that third‑party provider.
"Would be a cost savings since the Borough's water infrastructures are very old and the new water treatment plant is very expensive to maintain," Marino said, framing the potential conversion as a long, multi‑step process. Mayor John Giovannitti told the council the transition "is not going to be a quick decision and it will be a long process to convert," estimating 12 to 18 months or more if approved.
The administration sought and received the council’s direction to begin talks; Marino emphasized the timeline and that any formal decision would require additional study, negotiations and approvals. The topic also appears on the administrator’s report as an item the borough will continue to evaluate during the 2025 budget cycle.
Why it matters: shifting water service to a private utility could affect rates, capital investment timing and local control. Councilmembers did not vote on a transfer of service at the April 8 meeting; Marino described the meeting with American Water as the opening step in a protracted evaluation.
