NJ American Water Acquires Shrewsbury Township Water System

SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP, NJ — NJ American Water has completed its acquisition of the water system of Shrewsbury Township's Alfred Vail Mutual Association community, the company announced Tuesday.

The purchase of this system — which serves 265 customer connections — follows the approval of the NJ Department of Community Affairs and the NJ Board of Public Utilities, officials said.

It is also the second acquisition in New Jersey to be completed through the Water Infrastructure Protection Act (WIPA). The state’s WIPA legislation was signed into law in 2015 and permits the sale of municipally owned water or wastewater systems that meet certain criteria.

The NJ Department of Environmental Protection certified Shrewsbury Township’s request to pursue the sale through the WIPA path in July 2023.

“This agreement is a win for our community,” Shrewsbury Township Mayor Lester Jennings said.

“By selling the Alfred Vail Mutual Association water system to New Jersey American Water, we are securing much-needed infrastructure improvements, high-quality service, and affordable rates for our residents," Jennings said. "With their expertise and investment, our residents will benefit from a modernized system and reliable service for years to come.”

Under this agreement, NJ American Water said they will make several critical infrastructure investments in the community’s water system while keeping rates affordable for customers.

These projects include identifying and replacing all lead and galvanized steel service lines in addition to upgrading all water meters.

All aging water mains within the system will also be replaced, and NJ American Water will take ownership of all service laterals from the main to the meter — removing this responsibility and risk from homeowners in the community.

“We are committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable water service to the residents of Shrewsbury Township’s Alfred Vail Mutual Association, just as we do for the 2.9 million people we serve across the state,” said Ben Morris, NJ American Water's vice president of operations. “Our plan includes upgrading and strengthening the community’s water infrastructure to enhance quality and increase reliability — all while delivering excellent customer service.”

This is NJ American Water’s seventh acquisition in the last five years, adding over 17,000 new water and/or wastewater customers.

Additionally, it is the state of New Jersey’s and NJ American Water’s second WIPA sale following the company’s acquisition of Egg Harbor City’s water and wastewater system in June 2023, which added over 1,500 water and wastewater customers.

Residents will receive additional information in the mail from NJ American Water within the next week to facilitate a smooth transition, officials said.

Shrewsbury Township’s Alfred Vali Mutual Association residents will be also able to take advantage of the company’s customer service benefits, including its online account management portal MyWater, and its H2O Help to Others Program for qualifying customers who need help paying their bills.

Additional information is available on the Shrewsbury Township Water website and on the company’s website under “Customer Service and Billing.”