BRYN MAWR, PA — Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the infrastructure challenges spotlighted in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. With a billion-dollar capital improvement program, the company is modernizing water and natural gas systems across nine states, enhancing safety and resilience within communities.
“The ASCE’s 2025 report underscores what we have long recognized—our nation’s infrastructure requires urgent, sustained investment,” said Christopher Franklin, Chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities. He highlighted the company’s recent $1.3 billion in improvements in 2024 and an overall investment of $5.4 billion since 2020 to ensure reliable and sustainable services.
Key 2024 initiatives included replacing over 1,600 lead service lines to improve water quality, upgrading 410 miles of aging pipelines to enhance safety and reliability, and constructing a 500,000-gallon water tower in North Carolina to boost pressure for local residents. Notably, Essential invested $4 million in Chester County, Pennsylvania, to replace 450 lead service lines at no cost to homeowners, and allocated $27 million toward PFAS mitigation to address chemical contaminants in water systems.
The ASCE’s report called out critical areas of concern, giving the nation’s water infrastructure a “C-” grade and wastewater a “D+.” Natural gas systems also received a low grade of “D+” due to rising energy demands and outdated systems. Essential has proactively responded by modernizing its natural gas infrastructure and investing in technologies to meet future demand spikes while reducing environmental risks.
Looking ahead, Essential plans to allocate $1.4 billion in 2025 and $7.8 billion by 2029 to further infrastructure improvements. This forward-looking approach aims to address public health concerns, improve service reliability, and align with evolving regulatory standards, ensuring communities receive vital, high-quality services for years to come.
Through sustained investment and a clear vision, Essential Utilities is playing a key role in building safer, more sustainable infrastructure for future generations.
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