Member News

American Water Appoints New Member to Board of Directors

American Water Works Company, Inc. announced that Richard R. Grigg has been named as an independent member of the company's Board of Directors effective August 27, 2008. "American Water is very fortunate to have Dick join our Board of Directors," said Don Correll, president and CEO of American Water. "He has a vast amount of experience in the utility industry, and brings a wealth of knowledge to our board that will help strengthen our company as we move forward. I am pleased to welcome him and look forward to the contributions and perspectives he will bring to our board."

Grigg currently serves as executive vice president of FirstEnergy Corp. and president of FirstEnergy Utilities Group. FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. The Utilities Group he leads features the company's Energy Delivery Group, which includes seven electric utility operating companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, along with Customer Service and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Compliance. He first joined FirstEnergy in 2004 as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Prior to joining FirstEnergy, Grigg had a distinguished 34-year career at Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC), retiring as president and chief executive officer of its subsidiary, WE Generation. He served in a variety of management positions at other WEC subsidiaries, including Wisconsin Electric Power Company and Wisconsin Gas Company, where he was president and chief operating officer.

Grigg currently serves on the board of trustees of the Akron Children's Hospital and the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, and is an associate member of The President's Council in Cleveland, Ohio. He is president and on the board of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Grigg earned a Bachelor of Science and master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin and is a registered professional engineer in the states of Ohio and Wisconsin. In 1999, he was named Engineer of the Year by the Engineers & Scientists of Milwaukee. In 2004, he received an honorary doctorate in commercial science from the University of Wisconsin.

Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting

The 19th Annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting welcomes more than 100 waters from across the country and around the globe on Saturday, February 21. Held in the historic spa town of Berkeley Springs, W.Va,, it is the largest and longest-running water tasting competition in the world.

Travel Berkeley Springs is now accepting registrations for the award-winning event. Municipalities and bottled water companies are encouraged to enter now at www.berkeleysprings.com/water.

Water can be entered in five categories: Municipal, Bottled Non-carbonated, Purified Drinking Water, Bottled Sparkling and the People's Choice Package Design. The entry deadline is January 15, 2009.

"The impact of winning this event is extraordinary," said Jeanne Mozier, an event founder. After winning the 2008 gold medal for best tasting bottled non-carbonated water, Matinsburg, WV’s Tumai water company saw sales grow exponentially overnight. From selling 54 cases of water per month, just in the local area, two months later, Tumai sold almost 2,500 cases a week in six states with distribution continuing to pick up. “Before this festival, I had had a handful of inquiries from people on the Internet, a couple businesses sold this in Martinsburg. Afterwards we had 1,500 hits on the website, had 2000 inquiries emailed to us,” reported Tumai’s Bob Downey, who is scheduled to speak at the 2009 seminar.

"Water: Our Legacy," the event's seminar, addresses industry issues on Friday, February 20 from 1p.m. to 5p.m. Featured speakers have included hydrologists, hydrogeologists and representatives from such varied organizations as Water Innovation magazine, Potomac Water Watch, the International Bottled Water Association, US Geological Survey and Department of Environmental Protection.

All day Saturday, the public will have an opportunity to vote for the People's Choice award for best packaging. They will also be able to taste water along with the distinguished panel of media judges.

Watermaster Arthur von Wiesenberger, noted expert and author from Santa Barbara, Calif., directs the challenge of evaluating a product where tastelessness is the most sought after quality. The unique event, dubbed the "granddaddy of water tastings," by von Wiesenberger, is held at The Country Inn in downtown Berkeley Springs. Produced by Travel Berkeley Springs, it is free and open to the public.

Past judges include representatives from Spa Magazine, USA Today and USA Weekend Magazine, Water Innovation Magazine, Washington Post and Times, Southern Living, Blue Ridge Country, Virginia Living, Travel & Leisure, and Canada House and Garden Magazines, National Geographic Channel and Books, Oxford American, Quad State Business Journal, the Baltimore Sun and the Philadelphia Inquirer. The event was featured on a National Geographic Today television special and was selected as one of Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events for February 2003.

The water tasting weekend begins on Thursday, February 19, with preliminary tastings. Special events and activities continue everywhere in Morgan County through Sunday, February 22.

Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting is the crown jewel of the award-winning Winter Festival of the Waters, which features three months of special activities, sales and accommodation packages. For more information and a free calendar of events, call Travel Berkeley Springs at 800-447-8797 or check www.berkeleysprings.com — winner of the Stars of Industry award for best Web site at the 2000 Governor's Conference on Tourism.

New Jersey American Water Finalizes Acquisition of Valley Road Sewerage Company

New Jersey American Water announced the acquisition of the wastewater system assets of Valley Road Sewerage Company. The acquisition of this 103-customer system was approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on August 1, 2008.

With the acquisition complete, New Jersey American Water will soon initiate plans for a $1.6 million improvement project for the wastewater treatment plant serving the community. This system has been in receivership for many years and in recent years, has deteriorated and is in great need of repair. New Jersey American Water has been working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Board of Public Utilities and the Township of Tewksbury to acquire the system and on plans to make the necessary investments to bring the wastewater system into compliance with New Jersey environmental regulations.

The improvement project will include the following:

• The installation of two new ultraviolet units, which are used for disinfection;
• The refurbishment of the existing filters to improve the waste removal process, before the water is discharged into the stream;
• The installation of an additional tank on site to improve the treatment of wastewater before it is discharged; and
• The installation of a new generator for improved reliability during power outages.