Camden Water improves troubled water system

CAMDEN, N.J., May 9, 2001 — For the second time in as many years, Camden Water LLC — operators of the city-owned water system — has reported today in a federally mandated water quality report that Camden Water provided safe drinking water to its more than 54,000 customers.

Since Camden Water took over operations from the City in January 1999, the water has met all federal and state standards. The City of Camden was required under an Administrative Consent Order by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to sell or outsource its water and wastewater system by the close of 1998 in part because of chronic violations of regulatory standards.

According to the four-page detailed report called "The 2000 Water Quality Report," sent via U.S. mail to each billing customer, the city-owned system meets all primary and secondary drinking water standard parameters and readings for volatile organic compounds fall within mandatory guidelines.

"With more than 54,000 Camden residents involved, our goal is to provide the best possible quality of water," said Mike Belsante, President and CEO of Camden Water. "Improving the drinking water and maintaining health and safety standards were the main reasons we were asked to operate the system, and we will continue to make improvements to meet these standards for our customers' health and for the environment."

The report was issued in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate requiring all water suppliers to issue annual water quality study results to their customers. The report will be sent to all Camden Water billing customers this week. Camden residents who are not billing customers — such as tenants in apartment buildings in which the landlord pays the utilities — can pick up a copy of the report at City Hall, at the Camden Water customer service desk at PNC Bank at Broadway & Market Streets, or simply by calling 1-800-334-9781 and requesting a free copy by mail.

The requirements for preparing these types of reports, also known as "consumer confidence reports," were developed by the EPA in consultation with water suppliers, environmental groups and consumer advocates.

Mandated in the Safe Drinking Water Act reforms of 1996, the reports are intended to enable individuals nationwide to be informed about the quality of their drinking water.

Camden Water is a subsidiary of Somerville-based U.S. Water LLC, a private operations contractor serving customers in NJ, PA, CT, MA, and NC.