Please note that we, the creators of this petition, are not asking for donations of any kind. This is an automated request from change.org that populates on all petitions. Thank you.

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Protect Our Water is a community-led mission to defeat current proposed legislation that would allow private corporations to purchase public, not-for-profit utilities.

Each year, corporations attempt to privatize municipal utilities through targeted legislative campaigns to lawmakers. Private companies often position the legislation as a solution to municipal budget problems. The same is true with Tennessee’s proposed legislation, House Bill 1281 and Senate Bill 1414, which target not-for-profit utilities including our local water providers. The legislation is spearheaded by Tennessee American Water and parent company, American Water of New Jersey.  Private water operators leverage the sale as a budget boost and promise for better service, cleaner water and more transparent rates. 

Other states that have taken this route will tell you, privatization destroys municipal utilities and only benefits shareholders. 

Corporate control of utilities signals a losing battle for you, the customer. Customers lose input on significant rate increases and key decisions. Customers lose transparency. Customers lose accountability. Customers lose face-to-face interaction.

Customers lose control. 

Tennessee has the opportunity to learn from the mistakes made by other states that have allowed private companies to take over local systems. You have the opportunity to protect the most vital resource we have: our water. 

Sign our petition and join us in the fight to Protect Our Water!