New Jersey American Water's Water UP! Graduates Ready to Keep the State's Water Workforce Flowing
New Jersey American Water (NYSE: AWK) celebrated the graduation of 11 participants from its fifth annual Water Utility Pipeline (Water UP!) program on December 3, 2025.
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Rhea-AI Summary
New Jersey American Water (NYSE: AWK) celebrated the graduation of 11 participants from its fifth annual Water Utility Pipeline (Water UP!) program on December 3, 2025. The paid, 10-week workforce program provided classroom instruction, hands-on field training at the Short Hills Operations Center, OSHA 30 certification, and technical elective college credits for entry-level water roles.
Graduates came from Newark, Irvington, Belleville, Bloomfield, West Orange, Union, and Plainfield. Since 2021, Water UP! has trained more than 40 residents across Camden, Union, Atlantic, and Essex counties, with many securing utility and construction positions.
Details
News Market Reaction – AWK
On Dec 4, the first trading day after this news, AWK closed 1.56% below the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Dec 4 session.
Key Figures
- Program graduates
- 11 participants
- Fifth annual Water UP! class at Essex County College
- Program duration
- 10-week initiative
- Paid workforce development program combining classroom and field training
- OSHA certification
- OSHA 30
- Safety certification earned by graduates
- Cohorts completed
- 5 cohorts
- Water UP! program continued through five groups of participants
- Residents trained
- More than 40 residents
- Total participants since program launch in 2021
- Share price
- $130.09
- Price prior to publication; about 16.34% below 52-week high
- 52-week range
- $118.74 – $155.50
- 52-week low and high for AWK
- Market cap
- $25,116,305,287
- Equity value before this news
Historical Context
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Statewide mandatory conservation notice following upgrade to Drought Warning.
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Quarterly cash dividend of $0.8275 per share with ongoing annualized increase.
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Guidance to New Jersey customers on pipe protection and conservation in early cold snap.
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Company-wide advice on freezing temperature preparation and lead service line checks.
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Missouri subsidiary urging customers to prevent frozen pipes and costly repairs.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
osha 30 regulatory
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"Water UP! is launching these graduates into meaningful careers while helping to ensure the future of safe, reliable water for our communities," said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. "We're not just building a workforce; we're bolstering the foundation of public health and infrastructure for years to come. Water UP! will continue to grow and create opportunities that strengthen the communities we serve."
New Jersey American Water executives,
"When I first joined, I knew I would be learning new skills and exploring a career path, but I didn't realize how much this experience would shape my confidence and understanding of the water industry," said Tiffany Muhammad, a 2025 Water UP! graduate. "We learned the technical aspects of water operations and what it means to serve our communities with purpose. This program showed me that the water industry isn't just about infrastructure, it's about people, service, and stewardship. Because of Water UP!, I feel prepared and motivated to contribute to this essential work."
"At Essex County College, our vision is to change lives—and programs like Water UP! make that possible," said Dr. Augustine A. Boakye, president of
A cornerstone of the program was immersive training at New Jersey American Water's Short Hills Operations Center, where participants rotated through real-world scenarios in utility mechanic and field services representative roles. They practiced repairing water mains, operating specialized tools, and responding to service calls under the guidance of experienced professionals. This exposure gave participants a clear understanding of the technical demands of the job and built confidence in their ability to perform critical tasks that keep water systems running safely and reliably.
Community leaders also praised the program's impact on workforce development. "Thank you to New Jersey American Water for continuing this program for five cohorts and committing to its future," said Karen S. Gaylord, executive director of the Newark Workforce Development Board. "We need talented individuals in this career pathway, and you've chosen wisely. Have confidence in your decision—it will be fruitful. Keep investing in yourself and think globally, because access to safe drinking water is vital everywhere. Opportunities in this field are critical to preserving our natural resources and infrastructure. This is a journey, and I applaud your brilliance. Continue to be courageous, and congratulations again."
Since launching in 2021, Water UP! has trained more than 40 residents across
Learn more about New Jersey American Water's workforce development programs at www.newjerseyamwater.com/waterup.
About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.9 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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SOURCE American Water
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