WELCOME TO THE CAMDEN NEWSDROP! - October 2020
Welcome to the third edition of the Camden NewsDrop, a quarterly recap of news and events
from around One Water Street and Camden, NJ.
Our Water Quality Results Are In - We Think You Will Like What You See!
American Water, is proud to provide clean, safe, high quality drinking water to every resident
and business in Camden. Through New Jersey American Water and our Contract Services
Group, our teams are dedicated to delivering high-quality service that our customers deserve
and expect. When it comes to complying with strict federal regulations for delivering safe,
quality drinking water, we’ve consistently scored among the highest of all water companies.
We provide our Water Quality Reports – also called Consumer Confidence Reports – to our
customers annually. As you read through our Annual Water Quality Reports, you will see that we
continue to supply water that meets or surpasses all state and federal water quality standards.
Please take the time to review our 2019 Water Quality Reports. They provide details about the
source and quality of your drinking water, using the data from water quality testing conducted
for your local system between January and December 2019. For City of Camden Water
customers, click here. For New Jersey American Water customers, click here.
Did you know that American Water recently received 28 Partnership for Safe Water awards?
The awards, which honor the efforts in continuously optimizing water treatment plant and
distribution operations and performance, were recently announced by the American Water
Works Association. Locally, New Jersey American Water’s Delaware River Regional Water
Treatment Plant was one of several plants recognized for maintaining the President’s Award for
Water Treatment status for five years in a row! Read more here.
Let Us Know What You Think About Your Tap Water!
A merican Water and New Jersey American Water would like to hear your perception of
Camden’s drinking water. Please take a few minutes to complete our English or Spanish online
Water Quality Perception Survey to share your feedback with our team and the Camden Water
Equity Task Force. We want to hear from you!
The Camden Water Equity Taskforce was created by the US Water Alliance to increase the
understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and interventions to promote equitable water
management both locally and nationally. Camden is joined by teams from Atlanta, Buffalo,
Cleveland, Milwaukee, Louisville, and Pittsburgh all of which are comprised of US Water Alliance
member utilities, community leaders, environmental advocates, philanthropic organizations and
many others.
Bill Payment Options for City of Camden Water Customers
A s a result of the public health emergency, the PNC Bank customer service location has been
temporarily closed including the customer payment drop-box. City of Camden Water customers
can chose from a variety of options to pay their bill including, via phone by calling us at 1-866-
371-2623, online by visiting umbsportal.com/Camden, walk-in by utilizing the new payment
drop-box located in the Tax Office at Camden City Hall (520 Market Street) or by mailing their
payment to City of Camden, P.O. Box 371397, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7397. Please note the
payment drop-box at City Hall does not accept cash.
New Jersey American Water customers’ payment options remain unchanged. Please check
New Jersey American Water’s webpage at https://www.amwater.com/njaw/customer-servicebilling/ for a list of payment options.
American Water Awarded $5.1M Contract to Rehabilitate Combined Sewer Regulators
American Water’s Contract Services Group was awarded a $5.1 million contract by the City of
Camden to rehabilitate the City’s 28 combined sewer regulators. The project includes
replacement, repairs, chamber cleaning and coating, and jetting of the adjoining sewer. A
properly designed and operating mechanical regulator controls the amount of flow allowed to
pass from the combined sewer into the intercepting line and eventually to the plant for
treatment. Camden’s current combined sewer mechanical regulators are designed to pass a
predetermined amount of flow to the interceptor at all times which can cause localized flooding
instances during heavy rainfall events. Once the project is complete, there should be a
reduction in flooding occurrences throughout the City.
The project is funded by the New Jersey Water Bank and is expected to be completed by the
end of 2022. Click here to learn more about the project.
Required Lead Sampling is Complete and Camden Water Meets Standards
New Jersey American Water announced it has completed its required lead and copper sampling
for 2020 and all systems tested meet state water quality regulations. New Jersey American
Water tested 13 water systems that are required to be tested between June and September,
including its system in Camden’s Cramer Hill section and the 11th and 12th wards, and all
results show compliance with safe drinking water guidelines for lead and copper. The rest of
the city’s system was tested in 2018, in accordance with NJ Department of Environmental
Protection regulations, and it is also in compliance.
For more information click here.
New Jersey American Water Investing $1.1 Million for 27th Street Main Replacement
New Jersey American Water’s $1.1 million 27th Street Main Replacement Project has been
completed. The project consisted of replacing approximately 2,800 feet of aging 6-inch water
main that was installed in the 1920s with new 12-inch ductile iron main. The combined sewer
system along 27th Street, from Marlton Pike to Baird Boulevard, has been separated to allow for
increased rainwater flow to enter the system while a separate main was installed solely for
sewage conveyance.
Final street restoration and re-paving will be completed by Camden County.
Please note that we did not discover any lead service lines during the replacement project.
We Are All Beautifully Different
The recent tragic events of racial injustice remind us that much work remains to be done in our
country. Together, we mourn the loss of any life taken unjustly. Racial injustice is wrong and
inconsistent with the values of American Water. As a company, we are focused on ensuring
that our core values continue to shine through in all that we do, and we want to update you on
some of our inclusion and diversity efforts.
In support of racial justice efforts, the American Water Charitable Foundation made a $10,000
donation to the Equal Justice Initiative which works to end mass incarceration, excessive
punishment and racial inequality. Additionally, American Water and the American Water
Charitable Foundation launched its “Giving Back is Beautifully Different” campaign in June
because of requests from employees and the Foundation’s intent to support organizations
addressing inclusion, diversity and racial inequity. Employees received $10 to donate to an
organization of their choice, including those fighting racial injustice. More than 2,000
employees participated which resulted in over $63,500 in donations for 616 charities
throughout the country.
While much work remains to be done to address systemic racism, we at American Water are
committed to doing our part to contribute to a more just and inclusive society. Diversity is our
strength.
Plans are underway for reintegration at our Camden Headquarters!
Beginning in September, American Water employees have begun reintegrating into our
headquarters at One Water Street on a volunteer basis.
With more people working at One Water Street, safety remains our top priority. As a result, we
are limiting the number of employees in the building and will not be able to host community
partners for meetings or events at our facility for the remainder of 2020.
However, we are working to support local organizations through virtual engagement
opportunities and by virtually participating in community meetings. American Water is
committed to continuing to support Camden. If there are opportunities for us to lend our
support, please contact Caroline Gray, external affairs specialist, at
Caroline.Gray@amwater.com to discuss further.
Employee of the Quarter: Introducing Sharon Manker
We want to take the opportunity to highlight some of our dedicated employees that call Camden
their work-home and who have made an impact in our local communities. Many of our
employees spend most of their time at work and away from their families and communities.
Often, our workplace becomes our home-away-from-home which makes engaging with the
community even more important.
In this edition, we are featuring Sharon Manker, senior diversity program lead, who assists in
the management and execution of the American Water National Supplier Diversity process
strategy for regulated state operations under the direction of Lawrence B. Wooten, Senior
Manager, National Supplier Diversity. Sharon helps bring value to American Water by providing
access and opportunity to a diverse community of suppliers. One of her many achievements,
was co-chairing an inaugural Supplier Diversity Summit for the company in 2019 at our
headquarters in Camden which featured minority-, women-, veteran-, disabled-, and LGBTowned
suppliers. The event provided an opportunity for representatives from American Water’s
Supply Team to connect with nearly 250 vendors, including many Camden-based businesses, to
discuss how their products can solve specific problems where we currently have limited
solutions.
More information about Sharon and some of our other female leaders from across the business
can be found here. Stay tuned for the next edition of the NewsDrop where we will introduce
another American Water employee that has made an impact in our local communities.
Welcome to the third edition of the Camden NewsDrop, a quarterly recap of news and events from around One Water Street and Camden, NJ.
Our Water Quality Results Are In - We Think You Will Like What You See!
American Water, is proud to provide clean, safe, high quality drinking water to every resident
and business in Camden. Through New Jersey American Water and our Contract Services
Group, our teams are dedicated to delivering high-quality service that our customers deserve
and expect. When it comes to complying with strict federal regulations for delivering safe,
quality drinking water, we’ve consistently scored among the highest of all water companies.
We provide our Water Quality Reports – also called Consumer Confidence Reports – to our
customers annually. As you read through our Annual Water Quality Reports, you will see that we
continue to supply water that meets or surpasses all state and federal water quality standards.
Please take the time to review our 2019 Water Quality Reports. They provide details about the
source and quality of your drinking water, using the data from water quality testing conducted
for your local system between January and December 2019. For City of Camden Water
customers, click here. For New Jersey American Water customers, click here.
Did you know that American Water recently received 28 Partnership for Safe Water awards?
The awards, which honor the efforts in continuously optimizing water treatment plant and
distribution operations and performance, were recently announced by the American Water
Works Association. Locally, New Jersey American Water’s Delaware River Regional Water
Treatment Plant was one of several plants recognized for maintaining the President’s Award for
Water Treatment status for five years in a row! Read more here.
Let Us Know What You Think About Your Tap Water!
A merican Water and New Jersey American Water would like to hear your perception of
Camden’s drinking water. Please take a few minutes to complete our English or Spanish online
Water Quality Perception Survey to share your feedback with our team and the Camden Water
Equity Task Force. We want to hear from you!
The Camden Water Equity Taskforce was created by the US Water Alliance to increase the
understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and interventions to promote equitable water
management both locally and nationally. Camden is joined by teams from Atlanta, Buffalo,
Cleveland, Milwaukee, Louisville, and Pittsburgh all of which are comprised of US Water Alliance
member utilities, community leaders, environmental advocates, philanthropic organizations and
many others.
Bill Payment Options for City of Camden Water Customers
A s a result of the public health emergency, the PNC Bank customer service location has been
temporarily closed including the customer payment drop-box. City of Camden Water customers
can chose from a variety of options to pay their bill including, via phone by calling us at 1-866-
371-2623, online by visiting umbsportal.com/Camden, walk-in by utilizing the new payment
drop-box located in the Tax Office at Camden City Hall (520 Market Street) or by mailing their
payment to City of Camden, P.O. Box 371397, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7397. Please note the
payment drop-box at City Hall does not accept cash.
New Jersey American Water customers’ payment options remain unchanged. Please check
New Jersey American Water’s webpage at https://www.amwater.com/njaw/customer-servicebilling/ for a list of payment options.
American Water Awarded $5.1M Contract to Rehabilitate Combined Sewer Regulators
American Water’s Contract Services Group was awarded a $5.1 million contract by the City of
Camden to rehabilitate the City’s 28 combined sewer regulators. The project includes
replacement, repairs, chamber cleaning and coating, and jetting of the adjoining sewer. A
properly designed and operating mechanical regulator controls the amount of flow allowed to
pass from the combined sewer into the intercepting line and eventually to the plant for
treatment. Camden’s current combined sewer mechanical regulators are designed to pass a
predetermined amount of flow to the interceptor at all times which can cause localized flooding
instances during heavy rainfall events. Once the project is complete, there should be a
reduction in flooding occurrences throughout the City.
The project is funded by the New Jersey Water Bank and is expected to be completed by the
end of 2022. Click here to learn more about the project.
Required Lead Sampling is Complete and Camden Water Meets Standards
New Jersey American Water announced it has completed its required lead and copper sampling
for 2020 and all systems tested meet state water quality regulations. New Jersey American
Water tested 13 water systems that are required to be tested between June and September,
including its system in Camden’s Cramer Hill section and the 11th and 12th wards, and all
results show compliance with safe drinking water guidelines for lead and copper. The rest of
the city’s system was tested in 2018, in accordance with NJ Department of Environmental
Protection regulations, and it is also in compliance.
For more information click here.
New Jersey American Water Investing $1.1 Million for 27th Street Main Replacement
New Jersey American Water’s $1.1 million 27th Street Main Replacement Project has been
completed. The project consisted of replacing approximately 2,800 feet of aging 6-inch water
main that was installed in the 1920s with new 12-inch ductile iron main. The combined sewer
system along 27th Street, from Marlton Pike to Baird Boulevard, has been separated to allow for
increased rainwater flow to enter the system while a separate main was installed solely for
sewage conveyance.
Final street restoration and re-paving will be completed by Camden County.
Please note that we did not discover any lead service lines during the replacement project.
We Are All Beautifully Different
The recent tragic events of racial injustice remind us that much work remains to be done in our
country. Together, we mourn the loss of any life taken unjustly. Racial injustice is wrong and
inconsistent with the values of American Water. As a company, we are focused on ensuring
that our core values continue to shine through in all that we do, and we want to update you on
some of our inclusion and diversity efforts.
In support of racial justice efforts, the American Water Charitable Foundation made a $10,000
donation to the Equal Justice Initiative which works to end mass incarceration, excessive
punishment and racial inequality. Additionally, American Water and the American Water
Charitable Foundation launched its “Giving Back is Beautifully Different” campaign in June
because of requests from employees and the Foundation’s intent to support organizations
addressing inclusion, diversity and racial inequity. Employees received $10 to donate to an
organization of their choice, including those fighting racial injustice. More than 2,000
employees participated which resulted in over $63,500 in donations for 616 charities
throughout the country.
While much work remains to be done to address systemic racism, we at American Water are
committed to doing our part to contribute to a more just and inclusive society. Diversity is our
strength.
Plans are underway for reintegration at our Camden Headquarters!
Beginning in September, American Water employees have begun reintegrating into our
headquarters at One Water Street on a volunteer basis.
With more people working at One Water Street, safety remains our top priority. As a result, we
are limiting the number of employees in the building and will not be able to host community
partners for meetings or events at our facility for the remainder of 2020.
However, we are working to support local organizations through virtual engagement
opportunities and by virtually participating in community meetings. American Water is
committed to continuing to support Camden. If there are opportunities for us to lend our
support, please contact Caroline Gray, external affairs specialist, at
Caroline.Gray@amwater.com to discuss further.
Employee of the Quarter: Introducing Sharon Manker
We want to take the opportunity to highlight some of our dedicated employees that call Camden
their work-home and who have made an impact in our local communities. Many of our
employees spend most of their time at work and away from their families and communities.
Often, our workplace becomes our home-away-from-home which makes engaging with the
community even more important.
In this edition, we are featuring Sharon Manker, senior diversity program lead, who assists in
the management and execution of the American Water National Supplier Diversity process
strategy for regulated state operations under the direction of Lawrence B. Wooten, Senior
Manager, National Supplier Diversity. Sharon helps bring value to American Water by providing
access and opportunity to a diverse community of suppliers. One of her many achievements,
was co-chairing an inaugural Supplier Diversity Summit for the company in 2019 at our
headquarters in Camden which featured minority-, women-, veteran-, disabled-, and LGBTowned
suppliers. The event provided an opportunity for representatives from American Water’s
Supply Team to connect with nearly 250 vendors, including many Camden-based businesses, to
discuss how their products can solve specific problems where we currently have limited
solutions.
More information about Sharon and some of our other female leaders from across the business
can be found here. Stay tuned for the next edition of the NewsDrop where we will introduce
another American Water employee that has made an impact in our local communities.