July 27, 2008 As environmental and political
groups and agencies mull over the legitimacy and wisdom of
using the Hudson River as a primary water source, United Water sent out a glossy
preemptive shot announcing
the company's decision about where it will draw water in the future. Whether it
was at corporate in Hackensack
or Paris, or whether it was the company's cost accountants or engineers who
decided, VP and General Manager
Michael Pointing explained in the middle page of a six-page trifold that the
public need not worry because the
company will "Take Significant Steps to Ensure Rocklanders Have Enough Water."
At what cost, and what risk? He doesn't say,
but since this is the very first of these marketing publications ("the
first edition of our new customer newsletter"--curious timing for a launch)
perhaps the issues of sewage, chemicals,
radioactive spills, rate increases, elevated energy use, disappearing fish
species, and corporate profits will show
up in upcoming issues. Maybe the company will explain, with some detail, why they
have abandoned all other
alternatives. Then again, maybe they won't.
Look for your copy of Rockland County Community Currents in the mail soon--and please read it carefully.