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Aqua America CEO to Congressional Committee: Consolidation Helps Struggling Water Systems Improve Long-Term Infrastructure, Increase Environmental Stewardship

WTRG | September 26, 2017

Aqua America CEO to Congressional Committee: Consolidation Helps Struggling Water Systems Improve Long-Term Infrastructure, Increase Environmental Stewardship

Aqua America’s CEO Chris Franklin will provide testimony today to the U.S. House of Representatives' Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment. Among topics, Franklin will encourage partnerships and system consolidations.

Franklin is also president-elect of the National Association of Water Companies, an association whose members provide water and wastewater service to 73 million people across the U.S.

“Our nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure is in dire need of attention,” Franklin said. “Companies like Aqua and our fellow NAWC member organizations are well-positioned to put private capital to work and help cities and towns address long-neglected water and wastewater infrastructure maintenance. We hope to continue to be part of the solution.”

Franklin is scheduled to outline recommendations regarding:

The financial help that the regulated water sector offers to invest in communities’ clean water needs
The benefits of consolidating water and wastewater systems to bring highly fragmented drinking and wastewater systems access to funding, operational efficiencies and environmental compliance
Lowering regulatory barriers that can allow financing for long-term, capital-intensive infrastructure projects
Support for financial viability and accountability for long-term costs of system performance

“I’m pleased to be representing both Aqua America and the NAWC to discuss the actions our federal government can take to unleash innovative and sustainable solutions that will meet America’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs,” Franklin said.

Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded water utilities and serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information, or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica.

WTRG