Pennsylvania American Water is the largest regulated water utility in the state, and provides water and wastewater services to more than 2 million residents.

More than 900 employees work to carry out the company's responsibility of providing safe, reliable drinking water.

The company serves 372 communities in 35 counties. It has more than 626,000 water and 14,400 wastewater customers; about 16,390 of whom are in the Butler areas.

It has 37 water and four wastewater treatment facilities.

In 2005, more than $130.7 million was invested in treatment and distribution facilities statewide. This was increased in 2006 to $148 million.

Examples of system improvement in 2006 were:

• 2,100 feet of 12-inch main was installed in Mercer Road to connect the North Hills system to the Center Township system to improve fire flows in the Mercer Road area and to provide the capability to divert water between the two systems when leaks occur.

• 1,200 feet of 8-inch main was installed in Pleasantview Avenue in Butler, replacing a 6-inch cast iron main.

• 300 feet of 12-inch main was installed in Elm Street between East Pearl and East Fulton streets in Butler.

• 21,000 feet of new main was installed in various Center Township streets to serve about 200 new customers.

Improvement projects scheduled for 2007 include:

• 700 feet of 8-inch main will be installed in 10th Street, beginning from Madison Avenue and continuing into East Butler Borough. This will replace existing 2-inch main.

• 2,600 feet of 8-inch main will be installed in Whitestown Road, beginning at Chesapeake Street and continuing into Butler Township. This will replace existing 6-inch main.

• 1,600 feet of 8-inch main will be installed in Bessemer Avenue from Chesapeake Street to Pacific Avenue in Butler Township.

• 6,000 feet of 8-inch main will be installed in Eagle Mill Road and in streets in Chestnut Springs in Franklin and Connoquenessing townships.

• 4,500 feet of 8-inch main will be installed in North Duffy Road between Cornell Drive and Mercer Road in Butler Township.

• 400 feet of 8-inch main will be installed in Oakridge Drive and will be tied in with Old Plank Road in Penn Township.

In 2005, 19 Pennsylvania American Water treatment plants were nationally recognized with Five-Year Directors Awards for participating in the federal EPA's Partnership for Safe Water, including the Oneida Valley Treatment Plant in Butler County.

In 2006, nine more company plants received this prestigious award which recognizes voluntary efforts to raise drinking water quality above regulatory standards.

The company has also been the recipient of the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, an honor that recognized innovative and environmentally sound practices surrounding water treatment residuals. Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, water treatment residual material is used as a soil amendment for activities including brown fields reclamation, Christmas tree farming and community and school garden initiatives.

For information, visit www.pawc.com.