Some Franklin County residents have a new water and wastewater service provider.
The York Water Co. this week closed on the acquisition of the water and sewer systems jointly owned by Letterkenny Industrial Development Authority and Franklin County General Authority, according to a news release. The acquisition includes all water and wastewater production and treatment assets, water distribution and collection assets, and the Letterkenny Reservoir.
LIDA, through the FCGA, sells water to tenants at Letterkenny Army Depot and at the Cumberland Valley Business Park. The county-owned authority also runs the sewer system for them.
Together they serve 165 metered water customers and 135 metered wastewater customers in Greene and Hamilton townships, according to the release.
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This is York Water's first water system and second wastewater system in Franklin County. The company in 2020 acquired the wastewater assets of the Letterkenny Township Municipal Authority, which is among the eight wastewater systems it owns and operates for over 5,800 customers. York Water supplies water to more than 66,000 customers in York and Adams counties.
"We are excited to further expand our service territory in Franklin County, providing our exceptional water and wastewater services to the Letterkenny Army Depot, the Cumberland Valley Business Park, and the customers of the FCGA," York Water President JT Hand said.
"We recognize and respect the important mission the military and civil servants support at Letterkenny Army Depot. We take great pride in being able to serve those who serve the nation and the nation's warfighters. FCGA and LIDA have been tenacious and visionary in positioning Franklin County for growth and investment in the Cumberland Valley Business Park. York Water is excited to provide resilient, reliable and sustainable utility service to help FCGA/LIDA achieve the economic potential they have envisioned."
LIDA announced in 2018 that it was looking for a buyer for its water and sewer systems, the Public Opinion reported at the time. The deal would include Letterkenny Reservoir, a 200-acre body of water on Lower Horse Valley Road in Letterkenny and Lurgan townships. It is a popular fishing spot.
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The executive director at that time said LIDA tripled its water and sewer rates over the past 20 years to cover the cost of operations. It looked for a municipal buyer before going to investor-owned companies.
York Water's high standards and commitment to quality were behind LIDA and FCGA's decision to choose the company, LIDA Executive Director Kip Feldman said in the release.
"We needed a proven utility ally who delivers exceptional levels of operational expertise, along with the financial muscle to take our systems into the future, and that's York Water."
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.