Somerset County Business Partnership Applauds New Jersey American Water

Though best known for delivering safe, reliable water to more than 2.5 million people, New Jersey American Water also contributes to the economic sustainability of New Jersey and was honored Monday with the “Special Recognition Award” from the Somerset County Business Partnership.

“New Jersey American Water is being recognized for improving water service and delivery though major infrastructure improvements,” said Michael Kerwin, President & CEO of the Somerset County Business Partnership. “In the last two years, New Jersey American Water has replaced more than five miles of water main by investing more than $6 million in Somerset County’s water infrastructure. That investment supports and creates jobs in our local economy.”

“We are grateful to the Somerset County Business Partnership for this honor,” said Bob Schaefer, senior director of operations for New Jersey American Water. “Our job first and foremost is to ensure that our customers have safe water service and that we are maintaining and replacing aging water infrastructure that businesses depend on each day.”

New Jersey American Water efforts in Somerset County include a $32 million project to raise the flood wall at its Raritan Millstone Water Treatment Plant in Bridgewater. The treatment plant, which produces 156 million gallons of water per day, is located at the confluence of the Raritan and Millstone rivers and susceptible to flooding. In years past, major storms such as Hurricane Floyd have impacted the plant’s operation. Although flood protection was increased after Hurricane Floyd, the plant was nearly flooded during Hurricane Irene. Flood protection will now be raised an additional four feet to protect the plant against a “500-year” storm, and to protect the facility and economic loss that could result. Funding for the project will be funded by the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT).

New Jersey American Water has also been aggressively replacing older water infrastructure by working within the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities(BPU) distribution system improvement program. The program to accelerate renewal of the state’s aging water infrastructure was developed by the BPU following a lengthy public stakeholder process that lasted almost two years. The program’s infrastructure projects are funded through a Distribution System Improvement Charge that appears as a separate item on customers’ bills.

For photographs of the awards luncheon, please visit facebook.com/newjerseyamericanwater.

New Jersey American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE:AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.5million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,600 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 40 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

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