Rocky Mount Water Commitment
People. Community. Investment.
American Water is excited at the opportunity to work closely with the City of Rocky Mount to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater – as we’ve been doing for over 140 years across the US. By taking ownership of the water and wastewater systems ahead, American Water would assume all operational and regulatory responsibilities and invest in the infrastructure to modernize Rocky Mount’s system and improve reliability.
This strategic relationship would strengthen Rocky Mount’s future by helping ensure safe, clean, affordable, and reliable drinking water and wastewater services for generations to come.
Benefits that go beyond water
Improve water and wastewater infrastructure
Modernize aging systems and improve service reliability
Low income program*
Support for residents who need help paying their water bill
High-quality water that meets all standards
Federal, state, and local drinking water standards
Long-term community partnership
American Water is committed to building strong communities, and retaining high-quality service from the familiar faces serving you today
Reduce Rocky Mount’s financial burden
Free up city resources and create financial flexibility for Rocky Mount
Addressing regulatory requirements
Protecting public health and the Tar River watershed
* The utility offers customer assistance programs in many states to help low-income households manage water bills and plans to offer low-income assistance in Rocky Mount.
Delivering safe water
Rocky Mount’s water and wastewater systems require substantial investment to maintain compliance, improve reliability, and address aging infrastructure. American Water has the capital, expertise, and resources to address these challenges immediately.
The plan focuses on upgrading key pump stations, replacing aging water and sewer mains, modernizing SCADA control systems, and making other critical improvements to enhance reliability and maintain regulatory compliance.
Additional investments involve advanced PFAS treatment, including design and installation of “state of the art” PFAS removal systems at the Sunset Avenue and Tar River water treatment plants.
Creating financial certainty
Rocky Mount faces significant and growing costs if it self-funds the improvements needed to keep the systems running safely. By selling to American Water, Rocky Mount will secure approximately $174.6 million from the sale.
- Rocky Mount’s water and wastewater rates would remain the same at the time of closing. These rates would remain in place until a future rate case, which is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
- Over $200M in planned infrastructure investment in first 5 years to modernize aging systems and address PFAS.
- The $174.6 million sale offer will, free up resources for city services like public safety, parks, and roads.
Providing community support and high-quality service
- Local service supported by existing Rocky Mount employees already serving the community
- Bill payment assistance for customers struggling with their bills
- Monthly billing with online and in-person bill-paying options
- 24/7 emergency support to notify customers of issues
- In 2025, American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation donated over $5.7 million to organizations supporting economic development, fire departments, local schools, and community health and wellness.
- American Water has been recognized by J.D. Power for customer satisfaction among large water utilities.
Selling the systems to New Jersey American Water is the right decision for our community because it allows the City’s water and wastewater utilities to be managed by a professional company whose sole purpose is to focus on making appropriate, efficient investments and keeping these critical services safe, reliable, and affordable for our residents.
Jody Veler
Mayor, Salem City