Stewartstown Borough / Hopewell Township

Alliance for WAter REform

AWARE

October 1998

A Letter to the Residents of the Stewartstown Borough and Hopewell Township,

Obtaining a long4erm supply of safe, high quality water has been the stated objective of the Stewartstown Water Authority for many months. The Authority in their search for viable alternatives has narrowed their study to two options, either the purchase of bulk water from York Water Company or the development of a surface water treatment plant on Ebaugh Creek.

While the purchase of bulk water from York Water Company does increase the availability and insure a long term supply, the monthly cost to Borough and Township residents will increase beyond the current high rate of $8.40 per 1,000 gallons. A surface water treatment plant, even though achievable using proven technologies, doesn't have much appeal to most residents considering the fact that Ebaugh Creek is already listed as one of the top ten polluted streams in the State of Pennsylvania and has its headwaters originating near a public landfill.

For the past several months, the AWARE Group has been studying these two options as well as other alternatives available to obtain the safe drinking water we all are wanting. Based on the facts the AWARE Group believes a third alternative, selling the Borough's water system to York Water Company, is far superior to either of the two choices being considered by the Stewartstown Water Authority. If the system is sold in its entirety, the monthly water bill to users will drop substantially and a safe, long4erm supply will be guaranteed by a highly reputable company that's been a respected name in this county for almost 200 years.

The attached chart compares these three alternatives. The enclosed brochure describes the history and integrity of the York Water Company and the numerous quality control procedures run several times daily to ensure that only the absolute highest quality of water will be available to its customers. Also attached is a letter from York Water Company responding to a number of questions related to the alternatives under consideration.

The AWARE Group encourages you to read and understand the differences between these options. We also invite you to attend a public meeting on November 11 at 7:30 P.M. in the Stewartstown Community Center to learn more about York Water Company and these options. By attending this meeting you may also voice your support to encourage members of the Stewartstown Water Authority to vote for selling the entire water system to York Water Company and to stop wasting time and money pursuing alternatives that don't make sense. Nobody wants to drink water from a polluted stream and nobody should have to pay more for water if a cheaper alternative is available.

Your voice and support is needed. Come join us on November 11 and be AWARE of how we all can obtain safe, high quality water for the Borough and Hopewell Township NOW!

Sincerely,

Ted Schonbrunner
President, AWARE Group