The Biddeford & Saco Water Co. is poised to merge with the Maine Water Co., a subsidiary of the Connecticut Water Co., by the end of this year, and the plan seems like a wise idea from the standpoint of keeping the area water system in good repair.

Few amenities are more integral to the health and prosperity of a community than quality water, so area residents are right to be concerned and interested in the merger. The BSWC has a very long history in this area, having been formed in 1881, and maintains more than 220 miles of water mains, according to its website. The water is drawn from the Saco River and has been kept to high standards through a well-regulated treatment process.

According to its website, Maine Water has about 16,000 customers in 17 Maine towns and has been in operation since 1880, so it’s no fly-by-night operation.

By combining with BSWC, Maine Water will have more than 31,500 customers and be under the helm of the larger Connecticut Water. This increase in size will give the company more leverage to fund maintenance and improvements.

Such work is important in making sure that customers continue to receive fresh, treated water. And it’s not cheap. Replacing water pipelines costs between $500,000 and $1 million per year, according to Connecticut Water officials, and with a yearly rate of $185 paid by only 15,500 customers, the BSWC doesn’t have a lot of financial clout.

BSWC President Jerry Mansfield has said “it’s difficult to get enough capital” for system updates due to the company’s small size.

This merger will help the company fund the expensive water line work that must be done to prevent significant, widespread water service outages that occur when neglected pipes fail. Instead of being reactive to breaks, the company will be able to put a more robust schedule in place to keep up with its lines ”“ many of which are 100 years old, or weren’t built to last during times of austerity.

The main concerns with the merger concern water quality, water ownership and rate increases, and those have been addressed and will continue to be evaluated.

Those who use the water system have the added peace of mind of knowing that the Public Utilities Commission will have to approve the merger ”“ and their interests lie with the ratepayers. Environmental regulators are watching over the quality of the water, while watchdogs such as the Saco River Corridor Commission are looking out for local interests. As well, the company plans to create a citizens advisory council after the merger that can address any water concerns.

One of the most pressing matters is knowing that the city’s water source will not be diminished or damaged by outside interests, and the Biddeford & Saco Water Co. charter is said to prohibit this. According to Maine Water President Judy Wallingford, the charter states that only the communities served by BSWC can use the Saco River as a water source.

Rates aren’t expected to increase during the first year of the merger, if it’s approved, but they will go up soon thereafter. It’ll be a hit of 15-20 percent, but the money will be slated to stay local and help improve the area water system, representatives say.

It’s hard to imagine managing without water, which we all use for cooking, cleaning, drinking and bathing every day. Those who have wells at home know what it’s like to have no water during power outages, but city folks expect to have dependable faucets for the fees they pay. This merger will help ensure the future viability of the water system and the decrease the chances that large blocks of area homes will “go dry” when unkempt lines break.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski, representing the majority opinion of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.