Water Supply

Abstract

Unlike telecommunications and electricity, where the industry is dominated by large companies, water is supplied by many small companies both regulated and municipals. In some instances small companies have been consolidated into larger groups such as American and General Water Works. Most of the companies are small and even the industry leaders such as Hackensack Water and Elizabethtown Water are small by the standards of Bell telephone operating companies and electric companies like PSE&G. Despite the relatively small scale of some of the companies, the industry faces problems similar to those faced by the giants in electricity and telecommunications. Moreover, some of the changes, including technology, affecting those industries are beginning to have an impact on water utilities.