New Jersey American Water Answers Aging Water Infrastructure Challenge with Community Pipeline Reviv
New Jersey American Water Answers Aging Water Infrastructure Challenge with Community Pipeline Revival
Millions of Dollars Resulting in Enhanced Reliability, Fire Protection and Jobs
VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- If you had been on the job for 100 years, you'd be ready for retirement too. The fact is that some of the water pipes in New Jersey are even older than that. Much of the state's drinking and wastewater pipelines are rapidly approaching the end of their problem-free lives, and New Jersey American Water is launching a multimillion dollar effort called Community Pipeline Revival (CPR) to accelerate the renewal of this critical part of our state's infrastructure supported by customers in more than a hundred communities across the state.
"CPR will accelerate the rehabilitation and replacement of local pipelines and their associated components such as fire hydrants and valves," said Suzanne Chiavari, vice president of engineering. "This will enhance our customers' water service reliability and water quality. These improvements will also help ensure that the necessary system flows and pressures are there when local firefighters need it 24 hours a day."
New Jersey American Water spends millions of dollars every year on the maintenance and replacement of its nearly 9,000 miles of pipeline. "But those pipes are aging faster than we can replace them," said Chiavari. "CPR allows us to dramatically step up our efforts. We will be investing $100 million in local CPR projects this year alone."
According to an economic analysis by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, the company's expenditures on necessary water infrastructure generate significant economic benefits for the state, including the direct effects of the initial spending and the ensuing indirect economic effects. "The hundreds of millions of dollars we are spending on CPR create and preserve jobs," said Chiavari. "It puts thousands of people to work across the state in good-paying construction jobs, as well as supporting industries, such as those that provide the materials and equipment necessary for pipeline revival projects."
The state's recently established distribution system improvement program now allows the state's water utilities to accelerate the rate at which they can revive the water infrastructure in your area. This increase in renewal activity is paid for with a surcharge on your water bill called the Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC). Only the replacement or rehabilitation of water infrastructure projects that have been previously reviewed and approved by the state are eligible for the DSIC.
New Jersey American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYS: AWK) is the investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.5 million 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 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
New Jersey American Water
Peter A. Eschbach, 856-782-2316
peter.eschbach@amwater.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America New Jersey
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