Wilmington, DE, May 29, 2008, 9:00 AM
Officials from United Water Delaware, elected officials and community leaders joined together to commemorate the company’s 75th Anniversary of delivering reliable, safe water to the residents of New Castle County. The celebration was held at United Water Delaware’s Stanton facilities.
United Water Delaware traces its roots back to the Great Depression when the company was incorporated as the Wilmington Suburban Water Company on April 21, 1933. The company began by selling 18,000 shares of stock, which were valued at approximately $300,000.
The money not only financed the building of a 12-acre reservoir containing about 80 million gallons of water, a water treatment facility, a pump station, and an elevated water storage tank, it provided a lifeline to the economy in the area by providing much needed work for many of the residents in the area. “You have to admire the foresight and fortitude of the company’s founders,” said Bob Iacullo, Chief Operating Officer for United Water. “They possessed the will to finance and construct a waterworks company to supply the area’s residents and businesses during one of the most difficult times our nation has ever faced in its history.”
As the local population grew, so did the water company that served it, with several water systems melding together into the fold - Delaware Water Supply, Arden Water, New Castle County Water and the Delaware Water Corporation. Many of the local water companies originally served principally as watering stations for steam locomotives. Diesel and electric engine technology replaced the need for steam and the water was no longer needed by the railroad. It became fuel for residential, commercial and industrial development.
“I believe the men and women that work at United Water Delaware carry with them a sense of mission and purpose steeped in local history and tradition,” said Susan Skomorucha, General Manager of United Water Delaware. “Although we are part of a global entity, we are truly a local company providing life’s most essential resource to the homes and businesses in our community.”
When General Waterworks, owner of Wilmington Suburban Water Company, merged with United Water in 1994, it created the second largest investor-owned water utility in the country and United Water Delaware was born. With it came a $22 million modernization of the Stanton Water Treatment Plant, $16 million in improvements to the distribution system and facilities, and the $2.5 million construction of the state’s first tidal capture structure which garnered national recognition.
Currently under construction, United Water Delaware's Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) project will provide storage of 225 million gallons of drinking water underground, available to meet customer needs during dry times. “It is our mission to develop water supplies into the future to enable the community to grow and prosper,” said Skomorucha. “It’s something we have done in this community for 75 years, and that is quite an achievement considering our origin.”
In the year 2000, United Water joined the global umbrella of companies within the Suez group, an international leader in energy, water and waste services based in Paris.
“Looking back during this 75th anniversary of our local operations, it is a fascinating story of determination, dedication and perseverance and I am pleased to be joining the local community in the commemoration this historic milestone of achievement,” Iacullo said.”
About United Water Delaware
United Water Delaware serves a population of 110,000, with 55 square miles of service territory, and proudly celebrates 75 years of connecting communities with clean, safe, reliable and affordable drinking water. The company is a subsidiary of United Water, one of the nation’s largest provider of water and wastewater services.