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American Water's John Bigelow to Moderate National Water Infrastructure Summit

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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American Water’s John Bigelow to Moderate National Water Infrastructure Summit

Free event focuses on economic need for resilient water infrastructure to meet current, future challenges

VOORHEES, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYS: AWK) , the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, today announced that John R. Bigelow, senior vice president of Business Services, will moderate the panel of experts at the National Water Infrastructure Summit on Tuesday, April 16, in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Water Environment Federation (WEF) and its Water for Jobs campaign partners from across the country, including American Water, the free Summit aims to raise awareness that water infrastructure must be a top national priority, and that reinvestment in water creates jobs, drives innovation and safeguards public health. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. Registration by April 10 is required to attend the event.

Bigelow, recognized in the water industry for his decades of senior management expertise, will engage discussion among the following leaders in local and state governments and the private sector on the economic need for resilient water infrastructure systems to meet current and future challenges:

  • Harlan Kelly, Jr., General Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
  • George Hawkins, General Manager, DC Water
  • Howard Neukrug, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department
  • Brian T. Pallasch, CAE, Managing Director, Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives, American Society of Civil Engineers
  • George R. Schink, Ph.D., Managing Director and Principal, Navigant Economics
  • Carter Strickland, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection

The speakers will also share their perspectives on such challenges as the impact of ongoing under-investment in water infrastructure, how to bridge the funding gap, and what is responsibility to the future of water infrastructure.

“The D grade that U.S. water and wastewater systems received in the ASCE‘s newly-released Report Card on America’s Infrastructure is the latest reminder of how much the nation stands to gain or lose by either investing …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

American Water CEO Says New ASCE Report Card Underscores the Need to Act Now to Update Water Systems

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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American Water CEO Says New ASCE Report Card Underscores the Need to Act Now to Update Water Systems

VOORHEES, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– “The grades are in, and the nation’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is still in a poor state. If it were a student, such ongoing marginal performance would not be acceptable,” said Jeff Sterba, President and CEO of American Water, referring to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) latest Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, released today. The report, issued every four years since 2001, gave the nation’s water systems a D grade, up slightly from the D- conferred in the last two reports, but, according to Sterba, this year’s outcome is not a cause for celebration. He sees the findings as further confirmation of the need to update and maintain water infrastructure to ensure resiliency for health, safety, and robust local economies.

A breakdown of water systems can result in water disruptions, impediments to emergency response, and damage to other types of infrastructure, as well as unsanitary conditions, increasing the likelihood of public health issues. “Simply put, allowing water infrastructure to lapse puts the nation’s communities at risk,” said Sterba.

The price tag for the critical upkeep and replacement of the nation’s outdated water systems is approximately $1 trillion over the next 25 years, estimates the American Water Works Association. While this financial challenge is significant, there are solutions, including attracting additional private capital for public water infrastructure projects from companies like American Water, which proactively invests $800 million to $1 billion annually in needed system improvements to its water treatment facilities, distribution systems, and other critical assets across its footprint.

“Such investments prove their value every day,” said Sterba. “From projects to replace 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’ve made into the system ensure that we are well positioned to continue to meet customer needs in the communities that rely on us.

“What’s more, investing in water infrastructure development creates good-paying jobs and boosts local economic growth. There is no better time to reinvest in our essential water infrastructure,” Sterba added.

According to Sterba, the value of the ASCE Report Card is in raising customer awareness of the critical nature of these issues, and that they already play an important role in system renewal and future reliability by simply paying their water bills. “By supporting needed improvements, customers and American Water are working together to keep the …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance