American Water lauded for Phoenix plant

Voorhees-based American Water Works Company Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Conference of Mayors for a water treatment plant that it operates in Phoenix.

The company announced today that the Lake Pleasant Water Treatment Plant had earned the conference's 2009 Excellence in Public/Private Partnership Outstanding Achievement Award.

Phoenix, one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan area, selected American Water Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of American Water, to work with the combined effort of the Black & Veatch and the McCarthy Building Companies.

The plant opened in 2007, serving about 216,000 customers and with a capacity to treat 80 million gallons of water a day.

Company shares, which ranged from $16.47 to $23.65 in the last 52 weeks, closed Friday at $20.45, up 11 cents. (The U.S. markets are closed today.)