Latest news with #AmericanWaterWorksAssociation
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
Denver voted best tap water in the U.S. and Canada but conference judges award Virginia community
Denver voted best tap water in U.S. but Virginia county wins over judges Denver voted best tap water in U.S. but Virginia county wins over judges Denver voted best tap water in U.S. but Virginia county wins over judges Attendees of a tap water conference voted Denver has the best tap water in the U.S. and Canada, but judges from the organization disagreed. The American Water Works Association just awarded Henrico, Virginia, the accolade at the annual AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in Denver. The region near Richmond faced off against cities and communities across the country, including Denver, but ultimately beat Denver, along with other communities' tap water. Three judges tasted samples from 26 water utilities across the U.S. and Canada. Denver scored a first-place spot in the "People's Choice" category -- voted on by all conference attendees -- but failed to place in the top three among the judges in the "Best of the Best" category. "People's Choice": Denver Appleton, Minnesota Bloomington, Minnesota Taylor Wilson, left, of Denver Water, accepts the "People's Choice" award on behalf of the city for best tap water in the U.S. and Canada at the American Water Works Association's 2025 conference in Denver on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. CBS While perhaps a product of the attendees having had a lot of Denver's water throughout the four-day conference, Denver and Colorado rarely rank particularly high in lists of best-tasting or cleanest tap water. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Colorado as 33rd for drinking water quality among U.S. states and Colorado failed to rank in the top 10 for large metro areas in the U.S. in a recent J.D. Power U.S. Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. Denver did, however, rank 9th in its 2025 study in the "West-Large" regional category and in its "West-Midsize" regional category, Colorado Springs Utilities ranked 6th and Aurora Water ranked 10th. American Water Works Association judges taste tap water from utilities around the U.S. and Canada at the organization's 2025 conference in Denver on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. CBS The "Best of the Best" winners at the AWWA conference were: Henrico, Virginia Taylorsville Bennion Improvement District, Utah Ames, Iowa The conference wraps up on Wednesday and includes a number of competitions, including a "meter challenge," pipe tapping competition, and more. The finals for each of those competitions are on Wednesday.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
From PFAS Treatment to Public Trust: How American Water is Shaping the Future at ACE25
BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., will help lead critical conversations at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2025 Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE25), taking place June 8 through June 11, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 'The depth and breadth of American Water's leadership at ACE25 reflects our operational excellence and expertise, as well as our responsibility to help shape the future of the water industry,' said John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water. 'The depth and breadth of American Water's leadership at ACE25 reflects our operational excellence and expertise, as well as our responsibility to help shape the future of the water industry,' said John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water. 'From treating emerging contaminants like PFAS, to innovations in customer experience and more, our team is at the forefront of the conversations that matter most. Their presence at this conference underscores our commitment to driving progress, sharing expertise, and building public trust in the vital services we provide every day.' ACE25 brings together global water professionals, utility leaders, researchers and regulators to explore critical issues facing the water industry and share best practices. With a strong presence throughout the conference, several of American Water's experts will share insights on water quality, treatment technologies, operational resilience, customer experience and industry innovation—reinforcing American Water's commitment to advancing solutions that benefit customers and communities nationwide. Presenters include: Christiane Hoppe-Jones, Senior Scientist, American Water, will participate in Getting Ready for PFAS Treatment at Large-Scale Surface Water Facilities – Importance of Water Quality and Operational Evaluations. Christiane will also present on Aesthetics: Treatment to Improve Customer Experience, discussing how utilities can address taste, odor and appearance concerns through strategic treatment approaches. Deb Degillio, VP, Chief Technology & Information Officer, American Water, will serve as a panelist on Building Your Cyber Resilience, highlighting how utilities can navigate increasing cybersecurity risks and fortify infrastructure against emerging threats. Lindsey Olson, Sr. Director of Operations, New Jersey American Water, will present Sedimentation 101, offering foundational knowledge on sedimentation processes and operational considerations. Nicole Wiley, Engineering Practice Lead, American Water, will speak on delivering Water Treatment 101 to provide practical insights for treatment operators and emerging professionals. Anna Kazasi, Director of Engineering, American Water will share a poster presentation on the ACE Expo titled: ' I'm a small lonesome system and I need repair. I don't have a whole village to help me, so how can I avoid falling into despair?' – spotlighting the unique challenges facing small systems. Debbie Albrecht, VP, Chief Rates & Regulatory Counsel, American Water, will moderate and Matt Prine, VP, Chief Customer Officer, American Water, will serve as a panelist on Meeting & Addressing New Challenges in the Water and Wastewater Industry: Customer Impact and Education, focusing on how utilities can communicate evolving challenges and engage communities in meaningful ways. Lauren Weinrich, Director, Research and Development, American Water, will present on Close Call, Safe Outcome: Proactive Strategies for Mitigating Harmful Algae Blooms in River Ecosystems, sharing proactive risk mitigation strategies and environmental stewardship insights. Maddie Spinner, Engineering Project Manager, New Jersey American Water, will speak on forward-looking sessions on the AWWA Water 2025 Initiative, helping shape the vision for the water sector's future. Learn more about ACE25 here. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
From PFAS Treatment to Public Trust: How American Water is Shaping the Future at ACE25
CAMDEN, N.J., June 09, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., will help lead critical conversations at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2025 Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE25), taking place June 8 through June 11, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. "The depth and breadth of American Water's leadership at ACE25 reflects our operational excellence and expertise, as well as our responsibility to help shape the future of the water industry," said John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water. "From treating emerging contaminants like PFAS, to innovations in customer experience and more, our team is at the forefront of the conversations that matter most. Their presence at this conference underscores our commitment to driving progress, sharing expertise, and building public trust in the vital services we provide every day." ACE25 brings together global water professionals, utility leaders, researchers and regulators to explore critical issues facing the water industry and share best practices. With a strong presence throughout the conference, several of American Water's experts will share insights on water quality, treatment technologies, operational resilience, customer experience and industry innovation—reinforcing American Water's commitment to advancing solutions that benefit customers and communities nationwide. Presenters include: Christiane Hoppe-Jones, Senior Scientist, American Water, will participate in Getting Ready for PFAS Treatment at Large-Scale Surface Water Facilities – Importance of Water Quality and Operational Evaluations. Christiane will also present on Aesthetics: Treatment to Improve Customer Experience, discussing how utilities can address taste, odor and appearance concerns through strategic treatment approaches. Deb Degillio, VP, Chief Technology & Information Officer, American Water, will serve as a panelist on Building Your Cyber Resilience, highlighting how utilities can navigate increasing cybersecurity risks and fortify infrastructure against emerging threats. Lindsey Olson, Sr. Director of Operations, New Jersey American Water, will present Sedimentation 101, offering foundational knowledge on sedimentation processes and operational considerations. Nicole Wiley, Engineering Practice Lead, American Water, will speak on delivering Water Treatment 101 to provide practical insights for treatment operators and emerging professionals. Anna Kazasi, Director of Engineering, American Water will share a poster presentation on the ACE Expo titled: "I'm a small lonesome system and I need repair. I don't have a whole village to help me, so how can I avoid falling into despair?" – spotlighting the unique challenges facing small systems. Debbie Albrecht, VP, Chief Rates & Regulatory Counsel, American Water, will moderate and Matt Prine, VP, Chief Customer Officer, American Water, will serve as a panelist on Meeting & Addressing New Challenges in the Water and Wastewater Industry: Customer Impact and Education, focusing on how utilities can communicate evolving challenges and engage communities in meaningful ways. Lauren Weinrich, Director, Research and Development, American Water, will present on Close Call, Safe Outcome: Proactive Strategies for Mitigating Harmful Algae Blooms in River Ecosystems, sharing proactive risk mitigation strategies and environmental stewardship insights. Maddie Spinner, Engineering Project Manager, New Jersey American Water, will speak on forward-looking sessions on the AWWA Water 2025 Initiative, helping shape the vision for the water sector's future. Learn more about ACE25 here. About American WaterAmerican Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Alicia BarbieriDirector, Corporate Communications and External AffairsAmerican Water(856)
Time Business News
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
Water Outage Crisis: How America's Failing System Affects You
Picture this scenario: you turn the tap and nothing comes out. No water for drinking, cooking, or basic hygiene. This nightmare becomes reality for millions of Americans each year as our nation faces a growing water outage crisis. We're living through an unprecedented challenge with our water infrastructure. Every two minutes, somewhere in America, a water main breaks. That adds up to approximately 250,000 water main breaks annually across the United States, according to the American Water Works Association. Our water systems fail for several interconnected reasons. Most of our pipes were installed decades ago, with some dating back to the 19th century. These aging systems weren't designed to handle today's demands or extreme weather events. Climate change makes everything worse. Intense storms flood treatment plants while prolonged droughts strain water supplies. Power outages knock out pumping stations, leaving entire communities without service for days. Aging infrastructure – Pipes reaching 75-100 year lifespans – Pipes reaching 75-100 year lifespans Power failures affecting pumping stations affecting pumping stations Extreme weather events overwhelming systems overwhelming systems Equipment malfunctions at treatment facilities at treatment facilities Water main breaks from pressure changes When water service stops, the financial consequences ripple through communities. Households spend an average of $1,400 dealing with disruptions – buying bottled water, eating out more, and taking time off work. Businesses suffer even greater losses. Restaurants must close. Hotels can't accommodate guests. Manufacturing plants shut down production lines. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that water infrastructure failures cost US households $2 billion in 2019 alone. By 2039, these costs could reach $14 billion annually if we don't act. We face serious health threats when clean water becomes unavailable. Boil water advisories affect thousands of communities yearly, with the EPA issuing hundreds of warnings about contaminated supplies. During outages, people resort to unsafe water sources. Dehydration becomes a real concern, especially for vulnerable populations like children and elderly residents. Emergency rooms report increased visits for waterborne illnesses during extended disruptions. The situation hits low-income communities hardest. These areas often have the oldest infrastructure and least resources for emergency supplies. Smart preparation protects your family when service fails. Start building your emergency water reserve today. Store adequate supplies. Keep one gallon per person per day for at least three days. A family of four needs 12 gallons minimum. Choose proper containers. Use food-grade plastic bottles or commercially bottled water. Avoid milk jugs – they break down quickly. Rotate your stock. Replace stored water every six months to maintain freshness. Know alternative sources. Identify nearby wells, springs, or community distribution points. Conserve whatever water remains in your home. Water heaters typically hold 30-50 gallons. Toilet tanks contain several gallons each (but avoid toilet bowl water). Boil all questionable water for one full minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth. Fixing America's water crisis requires massive investment. The EPA estimates we need $625 billion over 20 years to achieve a state of good repair. That's $150 billion more than their previous assessment just five years ago. Smart sensors now detect leaks before major breaks occur. Advanced materials resist corrosion better than century-old pipes. Trenchless replacement methods reduce disruption to neighborhoods. Success stories inspire optimism. Cities implementing comprehensive asset management see 30% fewer emergency repairs. Utilities using predictive analytics extend pipe lifespans significantly. Government action at every level drives meaningful progress. Federal funding through programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides crucial support, but more investment is essential. State regulations requiring asset management plans help utilities plan proactively rather than react to emergencies. Local governments must prioritize water infrastructure in budget discussions. Citizens play a vital part in addressing this crisis. Support local bond measures funding infrastructure improvements. Contact elected representatives about prioritizing water investment. Stay informed about your local system. Attend utility meetings. Ask about emergency procedures. Understand where your water comes from and how it's treated. America's water infrastructure crisis won't disappear overnight. However, combining increased investment, advanced technology, and community engagement creates pathways toward reliable service. We must act before small problems become catastrophic failures. Every community deserves access to safe, reliable water service. The time for addressing our infrastructure deficit is now. Your preparation today protects your family tomorrow. Start building your emergency water supply and advocating for infrastructure investment in your community TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
City of Winder wins ‘best-tasting tap water in Georgia' at competition
The City of Winder has something new to boast about. They've won a drinking water taste test competition and officially have the best-tasting tap water in the state of Georgia. City staff provided a water sample from the Highway 53 water treatment plant, which won at the district level. Winder then advanced to the state finals and beat 16 other utilities to win best-tasting tap water in Georgia. They will now compete in the American Water Works Association's national competition this June in Denver, Colorado. 'Being named the best-tasting water in Georgia is something every resident of Winder can be proud of,' said Mayor Jimmy Terrell. 'Our water doesn't just meet the highest standards—it stands out across the entire state. The award reflects the expertise, hard work, and pride our team puts into delivering safe, high-quality water to our community every single day.' [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: GA student taken into ICE custody after traffic stop pulled over by mistake, police say Georgia's Most Wanted Georgia AG announces Brookhaven woman convicted in $305K Medicaid fraud scheme [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
