Supports Continued Ban on Municipal Wastewater Treatment of Flowback
Water
BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Speaking before the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Commission today, Aqua
America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis said
"Marcellus Shale has the potential to provide Pennsylvania with an
economic boost well into the future if it's done right environmentally."
DeBenedictis was invited to testify before the Pennsylvania Marcellus
Shale Commission at its regularly scheduled meeting today in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania to give a water suppliers' perspective on the Marcellus
Shale industry.
DeBenedictis said that energy resource development has always been
important to Pennsylvania's economy, first with timber, oil, then coal,
and now natural gas. "Coincidentally, the Commonwealth's plentiful water
resources have always been a significant part of, or impacted by energy
resource development. The Susquehanna River provided transport for
timbering in the 19th Century. In the 20th Century, streams
were contaminated by acid mine drainage from the coal industry in the
Southwest and Northeast," said DeBenedictis. "It appears Marcellus Shale
will be as water dependent as timber, oil and coal were in the past, and
has to be done correctly in the 21st Century to avoid a
legacy of pollution and despoiled land. As a major water supplier for
the state, Aqua Pennsylvania has a vested interest in ensuring that our
water supplies are protected. We also can play a role in providing water
resources for energy development responsibly. "
With respect to protecting the water supply, DeBenedictis said that he
agrees with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's
ban on the treatment of flowback water by municipal wastewater plants.
Aqua Pennsylvania has and continues to conduct baseline testing of its
water supply in areas where drilling is taking place. DeBenedictis said
to date, the company has not found any adverse impact to its water
supplies. He advocates that drillers build on the current baseline
testing by conducting additional water testing at their expense.
DeBenedictis said that Aqua Pennsylvania has a 125-year history of
building water infrastructure to deliver water to customers. Today,
customers might include participants in the Shale gas business. "We are
providing water filling stations in suitable locations to help move
truck traffic out of towns and neighborhoods." The company has two
stations currently in operation in the western part of the state and
another scheduled to be open in that area in early summer. An additional
station is open in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, with two
additional stations scheduled to open there this summer.
Aqua America, Inc. is a publicly traded water and wastewater utility
holding company with operating subsidiaries serving approximately 3
million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas,
New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Florida, Virginia, Maine, Missouri, and
Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol WTR. Its largest subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania, serves
approximately 1.4 million people in 30 counties throughout Pennsylvania.
WTRG
Aqua America, Inc.
Donna Alston, 610-645-1095
Director,
Communications
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
Source: Aqua America, Inc.
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