58:26-20. Findings, determinations

2. The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest and the policy of the State to foster and promote by all reasonable means the provision and distribution of an adequate supply of water for the public and private uses of counties and municipalities and their inhabitants; that while the "New Jersey Water Supply Privatization Act," P.L.1985, c.37 (C.58:26-1 et seq.), enabled local government units to enter into long-term contracts with private-sector firms, the time consuming procedures and the regulatory framework required therein have dissuaded private firms and local government units from entering into contracts; that there is a need for an alternate statutory process which enables local government units to enter with private firms into long-term contracts that protect the rights and interests of residents of the local government unit, but allows the private firms to utilize their expertise, experience and resources to enable the local water system to comply with existing and more stringent future requirements of the federal Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. s.1251 et seq., the "Water Pollution Control Act," P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.) and the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.); and that such contracts can adequately protect the interests of residents and water users and assure conformance with environmentally sound water quality standards. The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to establish a comprehensive procedure designed to authorize local government units to enter into contracts with private firms for the financing, designing, construction, improvement, operation, maintenance, or administration, or any combination thereof, of a water supply facility. L.1995,c.101,s.2.