Chester Water Authority

Chester Water Authority
P.O. Box 467
Chester, PA 19016
(610) 876-8181
(800) 793-2323

Quality. Service.		Value.

Winter 2004 / 2005, Vol. 11 No. 2

Capital Spending
What is capital spending? Capital spending is the money Chester Water Authority (CWA) continually invests to refurbish and expand our entire water system for the benefit of our current and future customers.

The major components of the CWA water system are:
•	The Octoraro Reservoir and Watershed

•	The Susquehanna Intake and Pumping Station

•	The Octoraro Treatment Plant

•	Transmission mains – 24” up to 48” in diameter water mains

•	Distribution mains – 20” in diameter and smaller

•	All pumping equipment

•	All storage tanks

•	All administrative structures and systems

From 1982 – 2003, CWA spent an average of 7.75 million dollars per year on capital improvements, so that:

•	We will have enough capacity to meet current and future customer needs.

•	We will be able to provide water to our current and future customers of the highest quality that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements as set down by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP).

•	We will be able to provide the highest value to Chester Water Authority customers for the dollars they spend.

A water system is constantly aging. It is necessary to be proactive in replacing equipment, facilities, or systems before they fail catastrophically. Capital improvements made on an on-going basis ensure that the system is able to operate efficiently and as designed. It’s just like maintaining your car in tip-top operating condition as it gets older. Some of CWA’s water mains were installed in 1867, 3 years after the end of the Civil War! The Octoraro Treatment Plant was initially placed into service in 1951 and has been expanded several times. The total value of all our facilities at the end of 2003 was $145,870,254. CWA must keep all our facilities operating at the same high level of efficiency. This is our challenge: to repair, replace, and add those facilities that allow us to provide the best possible service to our present and future customers on a continuing basis.

	Milestone
	Chester Water Authority is proud to announce that, in June 2004, we hit a significant milestone. We supply water to over 40,000 customers in western Delaware County and southern Chester County.

For over 138 years, since its beginning as the South Ward Water Works, CWA has maintained the highest standards of water quality and customer service. Today, CWA continues to be proactive in looking for better ways to ensure reliable service and preserve water quality.

Other articles in this issue:


		Page 1
		Preventing Your Water Meter and Pipes from Freezing
		Page 3
		Where's the Master Valve? Paying Your Water Bill
		Page 4
		The Water That You Drink: Questions and Answers Building Restoration - City of Chester