HARRINGTON PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Water announced that the company has signed a five-year contract for professional operations, maintenance and management of the water and wastewater systems with the city of Pontiac, MI, located 30 miles northwest of Detroit. The agreement calls for United Water to manage the city’s water and sewer utilities division, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the water distribution system, two wastewater treatment plants and storm and sanitary sewer systems.
The water distribution system provides an average of 7.8 million gallons per day to 21,000 homes and businesses while the city’s two wastewater treatment plants have the capability of treating 26 million gallons per day. United Water will also provide meter reading, billing and collections, and customer service for the 70,000 residents and businesses of the city.
The contract, valued at about $8 million annually, will save the city of Pontiac approximately $2.8 million from its current annual operating budget. The company will employ 52 local people and bring an increased focus on employee training and development and environmental compliance.
“We are very enthusiastic about working together with the city of Pontiac and providing high quality service to its residents,” said Bertrand Camus, CEO of United Water. “Our technical expertise in operations and maintenance, combined with the talents of the local workforce, will add great value for the community.”
“In addition to providing safe, reliable service in Pontiac, we look forward to our role as a good corporate neighbor,” said Camus. “This includes working with local non-profit organizations and sponsoring the Cal Ripken Foundation’s Badges to Baseball program.”
United Water has extensive experience in Michigan, providing professional management for a number of communities, such as Portage, where the company operates and manages the city’s water distribution and wastewater collection. In Alpena, United Water operates and manages the water and wastewater systems, including billing and collection services. At the Huron Shore Regional Utility Authority in East Tawas United Water provides operation and maintenance of the water supply and transmission system. In Wixom, United Water operates the water and wastewater utilities, including billing and collection services, and at the South Huron Valley Utility Authority in Brownstown, the company operates the wastewater treatment plant and sewer interceptor system.
About United Water
United Water is one of the nation’s leading environmental companies, providing water and wastewater services to approximately 7 million people in the United States. In addition to owning and operating 20 water utilities, the company operates more than 200 municipal and industrial water and wastewater systems through innovative public-private partnerships and contract agreements. United Water’s affiliate, Utility Service Company, is the nation’s leading provider of long-term asset management contracts for water storage facilities with municipal and industrial clients. Founded in 1869, United Water is a subsidiary of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT.
About SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT
Natural resources are not infinite. Each day, SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT (Paris: SEV, Brussels: SEVB) and its subsidiaries deal with the challenge to protect resources by providing innovative solutions to industries and to millions of people. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT supplies drinking water to 91 million people, provides wastewater treatment services for 61 million people and collects the waste produced by 50 million people. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT has 79,554 employees and, with its presence on a global scale, is the world’s leader exclusively dedicated to environmental services. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, a 35.4% GDF SUEZ affiliate, reported sales turnover of 13.9 billion Euros ($18.5 billion USD) at the end of financial year 2010.