New Jersey American Water Maintains Water Service for Customers After Hurricane Sandy

Company continues to advise customers to conserve water

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- New Jersey American Water continues to provide water service to its more than 640,000 customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Power companies have restored power to a number of the company’s facilities, which had been on back-up generators, and water pressures are near normal levels.

In the immediate hours after the storm, the company lost power to booster stations that impacted elevated areas of Fanwood, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Westfield and West Orange; however normal water service has been restored. New Jersey American Water’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant in Monmouth County had intermittent power outages early Wednesday, and some customers in Monmouth County temporarily experienced low water pressure or no water pressure. Water service has returned for those customers also.

“We are continuing to make progress in bringing our water distribution system back up to full electrical power, and the electric utilities have been outstanding in their response,” said Stephen P. Schmitt, New Jersey American Water vice president of operations. “We do not anticipate water service disruptions related to the storm, and we ask our customers to continue to conserve water while many of our operations remain on emergency generators. We thank all of our customers for their cooperation.”

New Jersey American Water recommends the following water conservation tips:

• Please refrain from nonessential uses of water
• Avoid using outdoor hoses for storm clean up. Use a broom instead
• For customers who have electrical service: Run dishwashers and laundry washing machines only when they are full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it
• Regularly check your toilet, faucets, and pipes for leaks

New Jersey 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/or wastewater services to approximately 2.5 million 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 more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

New Jersey American Water
Richard G. Barnes, 856-782-2371
[e-mail]

Source: New Jersey American Water