Laurel Prussing, the mayor of Urbana, IL has learned that it is easier for a foreign corporation to purchase a local water system than it is for a local government to do so. But don’t think that will stop her.

The water system in Urbana, IL has been privately owned for over 100 years. The system worked well until RWE, the third largest water corporation in the world, purchased Illinois American’s parent company, American Water, in 2003. All of a sudden, Urbana citizens were plagued with a slew of problems. Boil-water notices were issued, instructing citizens to boil water before use because the treatment system had temporarily failed. Customers complained of declining service when American Water centralized its customer service call center in Florida. Fire hydrants malfunctioned; a fire destroyed a maintenance building after two hydrants failed. Though the hydrants are the responsibility of the Illinois American Water Co., the fire chief now has firefighters regularly checking hydrants to avoid another disaster due to neglected maintenance.

Discontent with the company’s performance, Mayor Prussing traveled to Germany to speak at RWE’s annual shareholder meeting in 2006 to make her case for local ownership. Prussing was met with applause from the shareholders, but little action from corporate executives, who continue to insist that while American Water is for sale, it’s not for sale to communities interested in making a fair offer.

Prussing and other Illinois mayors worked with the state legislature to pass legislation that makes it easier for communities to purchase privately owned water systems and return them to local, public control. Governor Blagojevich signed the bill into law on July 4, 2006.

“What it boils down to is: Who do you want to own the system?” said Prussing, “We think we can do a better job.”