American Water Participates in Infrastructure Week

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

American Water AWK, the nation's largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, announced today the company will actively participate in Infrastructure Week 2015, May 11-15.

After working around the clock for more than 100 years, the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure is aging and failing. In the U.S. today, a water main breaks every two minutes, and the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that $4.8 trillion needs to be invested in water infrastructure over the next 20 years to maintain a state of good repair.

Infrastructure Week provides the industry with an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the nation's critical need for investment in its water and wastewater systems, and the remarkable ways in which water providers and water-reliant businesses are rising to the challenge and creating innovative solutions to help solve America's infrastructure crisis. This is a chance for people to become more educated about the issues and the myriad ways water utility providers are working to ensure the quality water services Americans rely on for their homes and businesses and the continued health of our nation's economy.

American Water will participate in the Infrastructure Week conversation through events, interviews and social media efforts. Aldie Warnock, senior vice president of External Affairs, Communications and Public Policy, will participate with other industry leaders in a panel discussion titled, What's the Value of Water? The Pennsylvania Story, on Thursday, May 14, at WHYY Studios in Philadelphia. The session will focus on the state of water infrastructure, water resources and innovative investments in Philadelphia's and other water systems across the Keystone State, and how water infrastructure in this region compares to projects and strategies in other regions across the country.

American Water's public-private partnership with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is also being featured in the Value of Water's (VOW) New Briefing Paper, The New Wave of Water Innovation. VOW is releasing the briefing paper today, which spotlights innovative solutions to the nation's growing water challenges.

As a member of the Value of Water Coalition, American Water will also be sharing the organization's activities and initiatives through social media channels and its weekly Dr. Water blog by Mark LeChevallier, director of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship.

During Infrastructure Week 2015, more than 80 organizations are set to host dozens of events. Participants in Infrastructure Week events will range from Vice President Biden and cabinet secretaries to local city councilmembers, academics, utility groups and private sector partners, all coming together to raise awareness about the state of infrastructure in our country and highlight the need for investment. For more information please visit http://infrastructureweek.org/ and follow the conversation at #RebuildRenew on Twitter.

Founded in 1886, American Water AWK is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

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