Groundbreaking Work to be Revealed at Westfield Street and Craft Fair

Art and education will come together at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Westfield Street Fair and Craft Show. 

New Jersey American Water will showcase the complex, largely beneath-the-scenes treatment, delivery and repair process operating 24/7 to keep drinking water safe and available now and in the future.

New Jersey American Water and distinguished guests, including Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, Westfield Councilman Sam Della Fera and artist Melanie Stimmell of We Talk Chalk, will “break ground” to a unique 15’ x 15’ three-dimensional ground mural depicting the repair of a water main break on a typical pipeline found in communities throughout New Jersey.

This scene is made all the more relevant considering that every two minutes a water main breaks somewhere in the U.S. Visitors will be able to “step into” the site to pose for a free keepsake photo of the occasion and learn more about the water system from New Jersey American Water representatives.

New Jersey American Water maintains 9,000 miles of underground water infrastructure, 15 percent of which is nearing the end of its useful life. Water infrastructure is reaching a critical point and must be replaced – the cost of doing nothing far exceeds the cost of proactive replacement.

In creating this display, New Jersey American Water hopes to increase awareness of how safe drinking water is delivered to homes and businesses and how infrastructure challenges, including aging, are a large issue.

The event will be held rain or shine. 

About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.5 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water,wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people inmore than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.