City Evaluating Options for Falls Church Water

After plans to auction off Falls Church Water, the city is evaluating its options on what to do with the system.

Wednesday, Susan Finarelli, spokeswoman for the City of Falls Church, released this statement: "In light of the recent reversal by the Army Corps of Engineers with respect to the ability of the Washington Aqueduct to sell water to investor owned utilities, the city council and staff are continuing to evaluate options for the future of city water system, with the goal of providing the best possible long-term solution to its taxpayers and customers. The city remains committed to providing superior service to customers by delivering safe, dependable drinking water at a competitive price."

Eugene Pawlik, a spokesman with the Army Corp of Engineers also released a statement Wednesday stating on May 17 the Chief Counsel for the Corps of Engineers issued a final opinion concerning the authority of USACE to potentially deliver water from the Washington Aqueduct to an investment-owned utility.  

“Based upon a review of the applicable statutes and consistent with a 1963 opinion issued by the USACE Baltimore District counsel, the Chief Counsel found that USACE's authority to deliver water is only to governmental authorities and does not extend to delivery to non-public entities,” Pawlik said in the statement. “The final opinion reverses - after additional research into the issue - an initial preliminary opinion that indicated USACE might be authorized to deliver water to a non-governmental agency."

Friday’s auction was after the Office of Legal Counsel provided a written opinion on March 8 stating the Washington Aqueduct was authorized to sell water to an investor or government owned water system.

Council approved the sale of the water company in April and the minimum acceptable bid was set at $44 million. The city sent out a in February and received interest from and was one of the suitors interested in the 33-square mile water system.