At least two water utility companies have expressed interest in purchasing the Greenville Municipal Authority water system, and an executive for one of those companies says the field of potential buyers could grow to as large as five or more candidates.

For the past several months, Greenville Municipal Authority board members have discussed and debated -- sometimes hotly -- exploring a potential multi-million dollar sale of the water system. Some officials have said proceeds from a sale could help get the borough out of the state Act 47 program for financially distressed communities more quickly, while others have expressed concern about selling the asset.

Last month, the board hired Hermitage attorney Peter Acker at a rate of $85 an hour to represent its interests through the process. But so far the board has not given Acker "marching orders" to begin formally negotiating with potential buyers, Acker said. Furthermore, Acker said the board never gave him "formal verification of any kind that I have been hired" as their attorney.

The board earlier this week voted against authorizing Acker to open negotiations, and he apparently will not get that authorization for at least another month, if at all.

At least two companies, however, have already expressed their interest in buying Greenville's water system.

Robert Liptak, president of Consumers Water Co., said he met recently with Greenville Municipal Authority and borough officials on behalf of Cosumers Pennsylvania Water Co., Shenango Valley Division.

The Shenango Valley-based operation, which is owned by Philadelphia Suburban Corp., has expressed interest in buying Greenville's water system on more than one occasion in the past. Liptak did not discuss specifics of the most recent meeting.

Liptak said he considers Consumers a logical buyer of the water system. "We are in the business of owning and operating water systems, and we have operated as neighbors (with Greenville) for 100 years and our rates are very similar," Liptak said.

"Some people were understably concerned about whether they should sell an asset they own," Liptak said of the meeting. "But I tried to make them feel a little more comfortable. We talked about a lot of things and discussed many different options."

Pennsylvania American Water Co., whose nearest facility is in New Castle and corporate offices are in Harrisburg, has also expressed interest in buying the water system, Acker said. A spokesperson at the corporate office was not immediately available for comment this morning.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Tom Fontaine at

tfontaine@sharon-herald.com