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CH2M HILL OMI has built its business in part by creating successful public-private partnerships. While CH2M HILL OMI has been successfully developing partnerships with local government and industrial clients since 1980, our history – and track record of success – extends back even further.
What CH2M HILL OMI calls a public-private partnership, some people call “privatization.” “Privatization” is a misnomer when applied to the types of operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements under which CH2M HILL OMI commonly provides water and wastewater treatment services to local governments. Privatization implies that ownership of the physical assets (for example, a treatment facility and its associated buildings and equipment) will be transferred to a private operator. In most cases, CH2M HILL OMI enters into a partnership with its customers to provide some combination of design, financing, construction or O&M services. The ownership of the facility remains with our contract partner.
Such arrangements – whether they are called O&M agreements or management contracts – have become increasingly common in government. In communities across North America and around the world, private companies are now providing services once handled entirely by municipal, local and state governments, including:
- Street and pipeline repair
- Tree trimming
- Gas and electric service
- Vehicle and fleet maintenance
- Trash collection and waste management
- Building and grounds maintenance
While the services differ greatly, local governments typically have similar reasons for seeking a private partner: improved efficiency, reduced costs and greater incentive to improve service. Public–private water partnerships have always been on the leading edge of this trend.
Next: A brief timeline of water and wastewater service delivery |
