Press Releases
Kearnysville, W.Va. – August 22, 2025 – West Virginia American Water conducted a comprehensive tabletop exercise on August 21 in its Eastern Operating Area, specifically focused on and in collaboration with Jefferson County, that brought together key stakeholders to evaluate and enhance emergency response capabilities in the event of a water-related event. West Virginia American Water is uniquely positioned to bring national best practices to the local level – helping to ensure communities like Jefferson County benefit from both local engagement and the company’s broad operational expertise.
The scenario-based discussion centered around a hypothetical spill incident that could impact the West Virginia American Water systems in the area. Participants were key stakeholders who play crucial roles in the event of an emergency, including the local offices of emergency management, Sheriff’s Office, the health department, and the West Virginia Conservation Agency. The exercise explored critical aspects of emergency response, including communications, resource management, and documentation. It provided a valuable opportunity for agencies and partners to collaborate and strengthen their preparedness strategies.
West Virginia American Water also hosted a public tabletop exercise on August 20 that was open to members of the community and offered a behind-the-scenes look at how the company’s emergency response team operates during a emergency water incident. The session aimed to build public engagement and demonstrate the company’s commitment to transparency and safety in Jefferson County.
“These tabletop exercises are essential to helping make our team ready to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies that may impact our water systems,” said Scott Wyman, President of West Virginia American Water. “By practicing our response and coordination efforts, we’re improving our internal readiness and reinforcing our commitment to protecting public health and delivering reliable service to our customers.”
“Hosting this tabletop exercise in Jefferson County with West Virginia American Water is a vital step in strengthening our emergency preparedness”, said Stephen Allen, Director of Jefferson County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “It allows local agencies, key stakeholders, and utility partners to collaborate, review response protocols, and identify areas for improvement in a controlled environment. Exercises like this help ensure that, in the event of a real emergency, we are ready to act swiftly and effectively to protect our communities.”
West Virginia American Water remains dedicated to proactive planning and continuous improvement in emergency preparedness to help ensure the safety and well-being of the communities it serves.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
About West Virginia American Water
West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 583,000 people.