National Association of Water Companies Executive Director Michael Deane on Earth Day and Protecting the Nation's Water


WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Apr 22, 2015) - As private water companies across the country work with local communities to celebrate Earth Day, the National Association of Water Companies renewed its commitment to protecting the nation's finite water supplies and to better steward its use by accelerating investment in water infrastructure.

Michael Deane said Earth Day is "an important time to celebrate this nation's environmental successes and focus attention on challenges we all face and one of those challenges is being better stewards of water."

He added, "The country's water supply depends on preserving our oceans, rivers, streams, aquifers and watersheds to ensure there is a supply of water for collection, treatment and distribution to American communities from Bangor, Maine, to El Paso and from Miami to Seattle."

Deane also stressed the immediate necessity to improve America's water infrastructure and accelerate investment in new water pipes (mains), pumps, valves, tanks and treatment facilities, some which have been in operation for over a century.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are more than 240,000 water main failures each year. These repairs cost more than $3 billion annually, excluding the cost of equipment, traffic disruptions, and lost work time. The EPA projects a $500 billion gap in funding that will be needed to maintain the nation's water infrastructure into 2020.

About the NAWC
The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) is the voice of the private water industry and the organization exclusively representing this group of quality water service providers, innovation drivers, creative financiers and responsible partners. To learn more about NAWC, visit NAWC.org or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact Information:

Marybeth Leongini
NAWC
(202) 349-7310
marybeth@nawc.com