It’s an old question: Are clean-water plants better run by cities or by private contractors under city supervision? As in many areas, it seems the answer is: It depends. Private contractors have done great things at some facilities, while others perform exceptionally under municipal control.
One example of the latter scenario is the City of Grand Island, Neb., where according to a recent news report substantial improvements have been made without turning the treatment plant over to a private operator, as had been proposed.
The Grand Island Independent newspaper reports that the city decided last February to keep the plant under city
