VOORHEES, NJ — New Jersey American Water is providing details about its inaugural submission of compliance with the state’s new Water Quality Accountability Act, submitted to the state in October.
“We are pleased to report that all New Jersey American Water systems that meet the criteria for the standards set by the new Water Quality Accountability Act are in compliance,” NJAW President Deb Degillio said in a press release. “Our teams of water quality, plant operations and water distribution professionals work hard to ensure the treatment and delivery of water service to the more than 2.7 million people we serve across the state, and these results are a testament to our employees’ dedication to excellence.”
Passed into law in July 2017, the Water Quality Accountability Act is aimed at enhancing the reliability and safety of drinking water from every water provider in the state. With a focus on accountability and transparency, this law establishes statewide standards for investment into water systems with more than 500 service connections for all water purveyors that is consistent with industry best practices. As part of the certification, the highest level of the company — or, if a municipality, the mayor or comparable official — must sign off on the submissions.
Upon the act’s passing, NJAW was already in compliance with many of the requirements of the law, and the company conducted an extensive internal auditing process to properly document and further ensure compliance and also to establish a robust process for reporting its compliance each year. Additionally, all certifications were further supported by the inspection results of the annual New Jersey Department of Environment Protection Water Supply Sanitary Survey.
“New Jersey American Water ensures compliance with the certification criteria by leveraging electronic work management systems, strong work practices and skilled employees to achieve superior safety and efficiency standards. This reinforces our commitment to the safe and reliable delivery of quality water service to all of our customers around the state,” Degillio said.
As reflected in the certification submissions, NJAW is compliant in the following areas, as required by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Supply & Geoscience: federal and New Jersey safe drinking water regulations; licensing of water supply and wastewater operators; water supply allocation permits; and Water Quality Accountability Act provisions due in October 2018, which include hydrant and valve maintenance, violations and mitigation, and infrastructure improvement investment. NJAW has routinely inspected and maintained valves and fire hydrants throughout its systems, and it has no systems with a notice of violation that requires a mitigation plan. NJAW completes regular long-term comprehensive planning studies that drive its capital investments.
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