New Jersey American Water Elevates Infrastructure Conversation and Mobilizes Action During Infrastructure Week

VOORHEES, N.J.–(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 AmericaÔÇÖs 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.

ÔÇ£New Jersey American Water successfully owns, operates and maintains
approximately 8,900 miles of water infrastructure and wastewater pipes
in 191 communities,ÔÇØ said Deborah Degillio, president of New Jersey
American Water. ÔÇ£We canÔÇÖt afford to jeopardize our customersÔÇÖ quality of
life by allowing our communitiesÔÇÖ 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.ÔÇØ

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.

ÔÇ£According to the Value of Water Campaign, more Americans currently
support investing in infrastructure than nearly any other issue,ÔÇØ said
Degillio. ÔÇ£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.ÔÇØ

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. ÔÇ£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,ÔÇØ 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.
ÔÇ£Closing this gap has the potential of generating more than $220 billion
in annual economic activity and could create 1.3 million jobs,ÔÇØ Degillio
said. ÔÇ£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 wonÔÇÖt; itÔÇÖs time to build.ÔÇØ

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 wonÔÇÖt. ItÔÇÖs #TimeToBuild.
Each year during IWeek, leaders and citizens around America highlight
the state of our nationÔÇÖs infrastructure ÔÇô roads, bridges, rail, ports,
airports, water and sewer systems, the energy grid, telecoms, and more ÔÇô
and the projects, technologies, and policies necessary to make America
competitive, prosperous, and safe. More information can be found at: http://infrastructureweek.org/.

Contacts

New Jersey American Water
Denise Venuti Free, 856-782-2316
Director
of Communications and External Affairs
[email protected]