West Virginia American Water Prepares for Statewide Operational Impacts from Winter Storm Jonas

West Virginia American Water said today it is prepared to respond to potential operational impacts related to a weather system that is expected to cause power outages and hazardous road conditions Friday and Saturday. The company’s primary concern is for power outages that could affect any of the company’s hundreds of electricity-dependent facilities, such as water treatment plants, pumping stations and pressure regulating stations.

West Virginia American Water personnel have fueled and readied a large number of fixed and portable generators, and technicians are ready to deploy them as needed. Company vehicles are being fueled, along with portable safety cans with additional emergency fuel supplies. Large on-site fuel supplies have been secured at some company facilities in the event that gas station services are limited.

Dramatic temperature swings can result in water main breaks and service line leaks. Additional employees have been scheduled to respond to water service disruptions, and contractors are on standby to respond to main breaks or equipment transport needs.

“Our team will work around the clock in the safest manner possible to any issues that develop,” said West Virginia American Water president Jeff McIntyre. “Heavy ice and snow, road closures and poor driving conditions may lengthen response times, so we appreciate your patience and understanding if our workers have to carry out their tasks under very challenging conditions.”

Water outages and estimated restoration times will be posted to West Virginia American Water’s website at http://www.amwater.com/wvaw/alerts/WV-AlertList.html. Emergency notifications, such as precautionary boil water advisories, will be communicated through the company’s CodeRED emergency notification system.

Last month, the company announced its new capability to provide emergency customer communications via text and email in addition to phone calls. Customers are encouraged to update their contact information and preferences online through the following steps:

1. Log on to our Web self-service portal, “My H2O Online,” at www.amwater.com/myh2o.
2. Click on the Service Address link, and then on the My Web Account button.
3. Click the Change button beside the Contact Information and Alerts section to make your updates.

Customers may also update their contact information and notification preferences by contacting Customer Service at 1-800-685-8660, M-F, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company’s customer service center has scheduled additional customer service representatives to handle the anticipated increase in emergency customer calls throughout the weekend. Customers should reporter water main breaks immediately to 1-800-685-8660.

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