West Virginia American Water Launches $2.1 Million Infrastructure Improvement Projects across the Kanawha Valley

West Virginia American Water’s construction projects are off to an early start this year due to a mild winter and an ambitious 2013 project list. The projects will replace a total of 38,800 feet (nearly 7.5 miles) of aging water pipes in Kanawha and Putnam counties – improving reliability for customers, reducing service disruptions and increasing water flows for firefighting. The projects, with a combined cost of approximately $2.1 million, will replace antiquated pipe that dates as far back as 1920.

The following pipeline projects are underway or will begin later this spring:

• Charleston: South Ruffner, Edgewood Drive, Sugar Creek Drive, Reveal Drive, Vermont Drive, Corvair Drive and Walnut Drive
• South Charleston: Ohio Avenue, Kentucky Street and MacCorkle Avenue alley
• Cross Lanes: Brick Lane, Carolyn Drive and Casto Road
• Nitro: Woodland Drive, Frederick Street, Walker Street and Main Street
• Poca: Poca River Road
• Sissonville: Old Tuppers Creek Road
• Clendenin: Cromwell Estates, Beech Avenue, Reamer Road, Thorofare Road and Grandview Road
• Campbell’s Creek: Campbell’s Creek Road
• Cannelton: Red Row
• Montgomery: 700 block of 3rd Avenue

The company also recently completed water main installations along 7th Street in Charleston, 21st Street in North Charleston, Sharon Hollow Road in Cabin Creek and Smithers Hill in Smithers.

Crews are scheduled to work weekdays during the daylight hours, and temporary traffic disruptions are possible during construction. Crews will work as quickly as possible to shorten the length of these temporary inconveniences.

Last month, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) released its latest Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which gave the nation’s water systems a D grade, up slightly from the D- conferred in the last two reports.

“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 be unacceptable,” said Jeffrey McIntyre, president of West Virginia American Water. 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 our communities at risk,” McIntyre said.

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. Although this financial challenge is significant, there are solutions, including attracting additional private capital for public water infrastructure projects from companies like West Virginia American Water, which proactively invested $97 million in needed system improvements to its water treatment facilities and in its distribution systems over the last five years.

According to McIntyre, the ASCE Report Card raises public awareness of the critical nature of infrastructure issues. Customers already play an important role in system renewal and future reliability by simply paying their water bills. “By supporting needed improvements, customers and West Virginia American Water are working together to keep the water flowing now and well into the future – all for about a penny a gallon,” he said. “Although much work needs to be done to raise the grade of the nation’s deteriorating water infrastructure, recognizing that a healthy water system truly promotes economic vitality, provides public health, and protects our environment can only improve future scores, in our state and across the country.”

West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 550,000 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.westvirginiaamwater.com .

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