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Pennsylvania American Water Hosts Public Officials for Tour of $1.1 Million Montgomery County Water Storage Tank Upgrade

East Norriton, Pa. (August 12, 2022) – Pennsylvania American Water representatives today welcomed state and local officials, fire and emergency responders, and representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to tour an infrastructure improvement project at the company’s Dekalb Pike water storage tank in East Norriton, Montgomery County.

Over 30 people attended for a rare view inside the Dekalb Pike water storage tank, a 2.8-million-gallon facility being rehabilitated to extend its service life and help protect water quality.

“We take pride in continuously maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure that keeps our water and wastewater systems operating efficiently,” said Jim Gable, senior manager of operations for Pennsylvania American Water. “To do this, our engineering and operations teams work closely to conduct detailed inspections, identify potential areas for improvement, and put plans into action to make improvements that allow us to continue serving our customers with affordable, high-quality, reliable service.”

Last painted in 2000, this critical rehabilitation project began this spring and will be completed later this summer. The total cost is estimated at $1,100,000.

“The cost of rehabilitating the tank represents a significant cost savings to customers in contrast to replacing the structure,” continued Gable. “In addition, the paint provides a protective barrier to prevent the steel from rusting and compromising water quality.”

The tank is part of the company’s Norristown water system, which serves more than 33,000 customers in 11 municipalities.

“This event was a unique opportunity to see significant infrastructure investments by Pennsylvania American Water,” said State Representative Joe Webster. “Water is an enormously important issue for my District. Nothing is more important to our residents than safe, clean, dependable drinking water.”

The project was completed by qualified rehabilitation contractor George Kountoupes Painting and involved abrasive blasting and paint application on the interior and exterior of the tank, as well as structural support evaluation and rehabilitation.

“This tour put into perspective the infrastructure needed to provide adequate water supply and pressure for critical fire protection, in addition to providing safe drinking water to the community,” said Steven Wanczyk, building codes and fire inspector for Bridgeport Borough. “It is great to see ongoing investments in our community’s water infrastructure.”

Pennsylvania 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 and wastewater services to approximately 2.4 million people. For more information, visit www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com and follow Pennsylvania American Water on Twitter and Facebook.


Media Contacts

Kara Rahn

Senior Manager, Government and External Affairs, Eastern PA

484-238-5216

kara.rahn@amwater.com