Aqua America Plans Over $555 Million in Capital Investment in 2019

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Aqua America Plans Over $555 Million in Capital Investment in 2019

In conjunction with Infrastructure Week, Aqua highlights life-improving projects taking place in the communities it serves.

Aqua America Inc. (NYSE: WTR) is recognizing the seventh annual Infrastructure Week, May 13-20, 2019, helping raise awareness of the critical state of infrastructure across the United States. A leading contributor to water and wastewater infrastructure repair and replacement, Aqua plans to invest more than $555 million this year across the eight states where the company operates to improve systems.

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Aqua plans to invest more than $555 million in 2019 to improve its water and wastewater systems. (Photo source: Business Wire)

“As one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the country, Aqua is committed to thoughtful and continuous investment in the infrastructure that delivers water and wastewater service to our customers safely and reliably,” said Aqua Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. “We strongly believe capital investments from private utility companies can be a large part of the solution to the country’s infrastructure problems. Infrastructure Week is an excellent opportunity to showcase how our team’s work to replace aging infrastructure improves the lives of our customers.”

The dire state of water infrastructure in the U.S. has been well documented. In a recent study published by Utah State University, researchers found water main break rates have increased by 27% in the past six years alone. The EPA also reports that there are approximately 240,000 water main breaks per year in the U.S., with approximately $2.6 billion lost as water mains leak trillions of gallons of treated drinking water. These statistics quantify the need for increased investment in the nation’s water infrastructure and underscore why Aqua is so committed to this cause.

Making these improvements translates to meaningful system impacts. Through Aqua’s $1 billion investment in infrastructure in southeast Pennsylvania between 2000 and 2015, customers have seen a reduction from nearly 25 main breaks per 100 miles of pipe, to fewer than 10 main breaks per 100 miles of pipe. This reduced water loss and the volume and cost of emergency repairs reduced service interruptions and improved water service for customers.

Over the past five years across the company, Aqua has invested $1.5 billion in infrastructure improvements, including hundreds of miles of pipe replacement and plant upgrades. This year, infrastructure projects are planned across all eight of Aqua's states to ensure safe and reliable water reaches each customer. Some of the largest projects taking place are highlighted below.

Source: Business Wire

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