American Water Encourages Customers to Prepare for Hurricane Season

American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., provides tips for customers and the general public to help prepare for hurricane season. Whether in the path of a hurricane or facing lesser storms, it is important to be aware of and prepare for extreme weather events.

“American Water is committed to taking proactive steps to help ensure our drinking water and wastewater systems remain resilient and our teams are ready to respond quickly and safely to weather-related events,” said Cheryl Norton, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, American Water. “We encourage our customers to prepare as well by taking simple steps like storing emergency water supplies and staying informed.”

In the event of a hurricane or extreme weather incident, American Water advises customers to take the following precautions ahead of time, including:

• Conserving water for essential needs;
• Filling your bathtub and other watertight containers with water in advance of the storm’s arrival should water service be disrupted;
• If you are asked to evacuate or if you decide to evacuate, consider closing your home’s main water shut off valve;
• Creating an emergency plan to keep everyone in your household on the same page if disaster strikes; and
• Tracking the latest weather updates—protect yourself and your loved ones and equip your home to best battle this season’s storms.

As the country continues to face more extreme weather events, American Water recognizes the need to continue investing in critical water infrastructure. Over the next 10 years, American Water plans to invest $40–$42 billion in capital improvements to its systems, largely for pipe replacement and upgrading aging water and wastewater treatment facilities. Capital investments, in parallel with continuous improvement, diligent cost management, and technology enhancements, help the company continue to maximize efficiency while serving customers' needs.

“Effective storm preparedness is achieved through long-term planning and execution of a capital investment strategy, rather than reacting to forecasts or conditions during the storm itself. American Water continues to invest significantly in resiliency projects to address the impacts of climate variability by hardening its assets. Consistent, proactive investment into our systems builds resiliency and sustainability of operations year-round including during extreme weather events,” said Norton.