New Jersey American Water Elevates Infrastructure Conversation and Mobilizes Action During Infrastructure Week
May 16 2018 - 1:24PM
Business Wire
In support of Infrastructure Week 2018, New Jersey American
Water is adding its voice to local advocacy conversations and
taking steps to help customers better understand the toll that
aging infrastructure is taking. Being held this year from May
14-21, Infrastructure Week is a national week of events, media
coverage, education and issue advocacy designed to elevate
infrastructure as a critical issue impacting the economy, society,
security and future.
Central to the conversation is remedying America’s water and
wastewater systems, which in 2017 received a D and D+ respectively
in the American Society of Civil Engineers 2017 infrastructure
report card. In the 2016 report card for New Jersey, the water and
wastewater systems received a C and D, respectively. To combat
this, New Jersey American Water has invested more than $350 million
on system upgrades statewide to improve service reliability, water
quality and flows for fire protection.
“New Jersey American Water successfully owns, operates and
maintains approximately 8,900 miles of water infrastructure and
wastewater pipes in 191 communities,” said Deborah Degillio,
president of New Jersey American Water. “We can’t afford to
jeopardize our customers’ quality of life by allowing our
communities’ infrastructure to fall into disrepair. From replacing
water mains, pipelines and hydrants, and the installation of
advanced metering technology to help reduce water leaks, to
enhanced treatment capabilities improving efficiency and
reliability, the investments we make into our systems ensure that
we continue to meet customer needs in the communities that rely on
us.”
Last year the company replaced and rehabilitated more than 75
miles of aging pipe and installed more than 20 miles of new main to
serve additional areas. Other investments include improvements to
five water treatment facilities; replacement or upgrades to dozens
of wells, pumping stations and other critical facilities; replacing
728 fire hydrants and 11,000 valves; and upgrades to booster and
lift stations in sewer systems.
Degillio emphasizes that while water infrastructure is in dire
need nationwide, progress has been made since the first
Infrastructure Week was observed six years ago.
“According to the Value of Water Campaign, more Americans
currently support investing in infrastructure than nearly any other
issue,” said Degillio. “Elected officials and business and
community leaders are beginning to recognize that the
infrastructure investment gap cannot be solved by incremental or
stop-gap solutions and are looking to advancing truly
transformative projects that lead to sustainable solutions.”
Degillio cites the Water Quality Accountability Act, which was
passed in N.J. last year and aims to raise the level of investment
and accountability of every water provider in the state, as a local
example of a proactive take on infrastructure. “There is a lot of
positive momentum right now that can be leveraged to help our
communities realize the positive benefits of infrastructure that is
on the path back to health,” she said.
But there is still a way to go to closing the national
investment gap of $82 billion per year to bring water and
wastewater systems up to par. “Closing this gap has the potential
of generating more than $220 billion in annual economic activity
and could create 1.3 million jobs,” Degillio said. “The longer
Americans wait to address infrastructure issues, the bigger the gap
gets, and the greater are the benefits that never get realized. The
theme of Infrastructure Week really does say it all: Americans are
waiting, the future won’t; it’s time to build.”
About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is
the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing
high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 2.7 million people. More information can be found at
www.newjerseyamwater.com.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the
largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water
and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,900
dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based
drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an
estimated 15 million people in 46 states and Ontario, Canada.
American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water
services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives
flowing.
About Infrastructure Week
Infrastructure Week, a non-profit organization, convenes a
national week of education and advocacy that brings together
American businesses, workers, elected leaders, and everyday
citizens around one message in 2018: Americans are waiting.
The future won’t. It’s #TimeToBuild. Each year during
IWeek, leaders and citizens around America highlight the state of
our nation’s infrastructure – roads, bridges, rail, ports,
airports, water and sewer systems, the energy grid, telecoms, and
more – and the projects, technologies, and policies necessary to
make America competitive, prosperous, and safe. More information
can be found at: http://infrastructureweek.org/.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180516006187/en/
New Jersey American WaterDenise Venuti Free,
856-782-2316Director of Communications and External
Affairsdenise.free@amwater.com
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