West Virginia American Water Launches 2018 Infrastructure Upgrade Map

User-friendly web-based map allows customers to see their water bills
at work

CHARLESTON, W.Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#drinkingwater–West Virginia American Water customers can see their water bills at work
on the company’s interactive
web-based map of its 2018 infrastructure upgrade projects. This
user-friendly map allows West Virginia American Water customers to view
details about water main replacement projects and other water
distribution system upgrades throughout the company’s service area.

“We owe it to our customers to demonstrate how we are putting their
water bills to work and making necessary investments to provide safe,
clean, affordable and reliable water services to keep their lives
flowing,” said Brian Bruce, president of West Virginia American Water.
“As a result of our distribution system improvement program approved by
the Public Service Commission, we’re replacing aging water lines at an
accelerated rate, and we want to be perfectly transparent with our
customers about when and where these projects are taking place.”

Now in its second year, this online map application developed by West
Virginia American Water’s local GIS department features locations of and
information about projects completed in 2017 as well as new projects
underway in 2018. West Virginia American Water encourages customers,
contractors, employees, public officials and regulators to visit the map
for important information about water system upgrades in their local
communities. More projects will be added to the map throughout the year
as they get underway.

In 2017, West Virginia American Water invested $29 million to replace
nearly 30 miles of aging water lines across West Virginia, along with
valves, service lines and fire hydrants – enhancing system resiliency,
improving water quality, increasing flows for fire protection and
reducing service interruptions. This year, West Virginia American Water
plans to invest approximately $28 million to maintain this aggressive
infrastructure replacement program. Accordingly, customers pay a 3.15
percent surcharge on their monthly bills (approximately $1.50 for the
average residential customer) to help fund these projects.

“It’s no secret that much of the water infrastructure across the country
is aging and in need of repair or replacement,” Bruce continued. “Our
engineering and operations teams work closely in our local communities
to identify needed upgrades and put plans into action, and we’re pleased
that we can share these activities with our customers through a free
online map accessible from any computer or smartphone.”

The 2018
Infrastructure Upgrade Map, which can be found on West Virginia
American Water’s website under “Water Quality > System
Upgrades, features summaries of project counts, total dollars
invested and length of upgraded water lines across the bottom of the
screen. Users can navigate the map by panning and zooming similar to
other popular web-based maps and then click on individual projects once
zoomed in for specific project details.

West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE:
AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state,
providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately
530,000 people. 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. For more information, visit amwater.com
and follow American Water on Twitter,
Facebook
and LinkedIn.

Connect with us: Facebook.com/wvamwater
● Twitter.com/wvamwater
● YouTube.com/wvamwater
● Instagram: @wvamwater

Contacts

West Virginia American Water
Laura Martin, External Affairs Manager
[email protected]
Office:
304-340-2089
Mobile: 304-932-7158
www.westvirginiaamwater.com