Aqua New Jersey, Inc. (Aqua) today announced today that it is has
reached the homestretch of its 2013 capital program, which includes
various infrastructure improvements totaling $12 million throughout the
utility’s four operating divisions, including parts of the following
counties.
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$7 million throughout its Northern operating division, which comprises
parts of Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties
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$2.5 million throughout its Central operating division, which
comprises parts of Burlington and Mercer counties
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$2.2 million throughout its Southern operating division, which
comprises parts of Camden and Gloucester counties
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$400,000 throughout its Eastern operating division, which includes
parts of Ocean County
Aqua New Jersey President Nicholas Asselta said a significant part of
the company’s investment addressed aging water pipes. “About $8 million
of the money we spent was used to replace approximately 9 miles old
water pipe throughout the state. Our pipe replacement program was
enhanced this year by the distribution system improvement charge, which
implemented by the Board of Public Utilities earlier this year,”
explained Asselta. “The DSIC makes it possible for utilities like Aqua
to expedite much-needed infrastructure projects that improve both
service reliability and water quality.”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s fifth Drinking Water
Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment identifies investments needed
over the next 20 years for thousands of miles of pipes and thousands of
treatment plants, storage tanks and water distribution systems, which
are all vital to public health and the economy. The national total of
$384 billion includes $247.5 billion to replace or refurbish aging or
deteriorating lines.
“These types of investments are critical to ensuring that we are
maintaining our systems and protecting public health by complying with
state and federal water quality regulations and providing reliable water
and wastewater service to our customers in the most efficient way
possible,” said Asselta.
The utility’s 2013 program comes on the heels of the company’s 2012
capital program, in which the company invested approximately the same
amount in similar improvements throughout the state.
Aqua New Jersey provides water and wastewater service to more than
165,000 residents in 22 municipalities across throughout the state.
Visit www.aquaamerica.com
for more information.
WTRG
Copyright Business Wire 2013