Virgina American Water President Laura Runkle Joins American Water Leadership to Meet with Congressional Leaders in Washington D.C.

Company discusses solutions to water and wastewater infrastructure challenges

ALEXANDRIA, VA – July 17, 2025 – Virginia American Water President Laura Runkle joined a cohort of American Water state presidents and senior executives to meet with Members of Congress in Washington, D.C. this week. The group aimed to strengthen relationships with policymakers and discuss potential solutions to vital water and wastewater infrastructure needs across the nation.

Led by American Water President and Chief Executive Officer John Griffith and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Norton, the engagements included representation from 11 states and more than 40 meetings with congressional offices. Key topics focused on policy issues that affect water utilities, investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, the future of clean water access and other key legislative priorities.

“This fly-in gave us a valuable opportunity to elevate the voices of our Virginia customers and highlight policies to assist with the urgent need for continued investment in aging water systems across our communities,” said Laura Runkle, President, Virginia American Water. “We are taking this issue head-on, with millions of planned investments in 2025 to improve the water and wastewater systems in the communities we proudly serve.”

This year’s fly-in underscored the need for significant investment in water infrastructure, especially given the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The nation’s drinking water systems received a grade of “C-” and wastewater systems a grade of “D+,” highlighting the serious challenges facing U.S. water and wastewater utilities. American Water plans to invest $40–$42 billion over the next decade in infrastructure upgrades and repairs, including right here in Virginia.

For more information about Virginia American Water’s local initiatives, visit virginiaamwater.com.

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