Aqua America CEO to Congressional Committee: Consolidation Helps Struggling Water Systems Improve Long-Term Infrastructure, Increase Environmental Stewardship

BRYN MAWR, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aqua America’s CEO Chris Franklin will provide testimony today to the
U.S. House of Representatives' Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment. Among
topics, Franklin will encourage partnerships and system consolidations.

Franklin is also president-elect of the National Association of Water
Companies, an association whose members provide water and wastewater
service to 73 million people across the U.S.

“Our nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure is in dire need of
attention,” Franklin said. “Companies like Aqua and our fellow NAWC
member organizations are well-positioned to put private capital to work
and help cities and towns address long-neglected water and wastewater
infrastructure maintenance. We hope to continue to be part of the
solution.”

Franklin is scheduled to outline recommendations regarding:

• The financial help that the regulated water sector offers to invest in
  communities’ clean water needs
• The benefits of consolidating water and wastewater systems to bring
  highly fragmented drinking and wastewater systems access to funding,
  operational efficiencies and environmental compliance
• Lowering regulatory barriers that can allow financing for long-term,
  capital-intensive infrastructure projects
• Support for financial viability and accountability for long-term costs
  of system performance

“I’m pleased to be representing both Aqua America and the NAWC to
discuss the actions our federal government can take to unleash
innovative and sustainable solutions that will meet America’s water and
wastewater infrastructure needs,” Franklin said.

Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded water
utilities and serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Aqua
America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
WTR. Visit AquaAmerica.com
for more information, or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica
and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica.

WTRG

Contacts

Aqua America
Stacey Hajdak, 610-520-6309
M: 267-294-1866
[email protected]