Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission Celebrates 100 Years of Service by Joining Nationwide Imagine a Day Without Water Initiative on October 15
MPWC marks its centennial by highlighting the essential role reliable water plays in protecting public health, strengthening communities and supporting the local economy
Pennsauken, NJ – As the Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission (MPWC) celebrates 100 years of serving the community, the public water utility is joining communities and organizations across the country in recognizing October 15 as Imagine a Day Without Water, a national day of awareness that challenges Americans to reflect on how vital water is to every aspect of life.
For a century, MPWC has been part of the infrastructure that helps make daily life possible in Merchantville, Pennsauken and surrounding communities. The centennial provides an opportunity not only to celebrate that history, but also to look ahead to the continued investments needed to ensure safe, reliable water for generations to come.
From brewing morning coffee to keeping businesses and industry running, water powers everything we do. It keeps families healthy, supports local economies, and helps our communities thrive. But too often, we don’t think about it until it’s gone – when a main breaks, a drought hits, or the tap runs dry.
Each year, Imagine a Day Without Water invites us to recognize how crucial our need for water really is by visualizing life without it, just for one day. Reliable water isn’t just about convenience; it’s the foundation of public health, economic growth, and community resilience.
According to the 2026 Value of Water Index, most Americans agree that investing in water is essential. Support for prioritizing reliable water access reached a new high, outranking all other key issues presented to voters. Voters believe continued investments in drinking water and wastewater services are critical to support life – 96% believe these water investments are critical for good public health, 95% believe it’s critical for the overall well-being of their communities, and 85% of voters believe they’re critical for a strong economy.
“Access to safe, reliable water is something we can never take for granted – and that includes your local water utility. Without local water utilities treating and monitoring water, individual property owners would be responsible for maintaining a private well, monitoring and treating the water and providing a backup power source to ensure water was delivered,” said Rich Spafford, engineering director, MPWC. “As MPWC celebrates 100 years of serving the Merchantville-Pennsauken area, we recognize the importance of continuing to invest in the infrastructure, resources and people who help ensure reliable water service for our communities. Investing in water means investing in our health, our communities and our future.”
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About the Value of Water Campaign
The Value of Water Campaign, staffed by the US Water Alliance, is a coalition of leading organizations and individuals from across the US water sector who are working to educate and inspire Americans about how our water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Since 2015, the Value of Water Campaign has been building public and political will for investment in America’s water infrastructure.
About MPWC
The Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission is a public water utility co-owned by the Borough of Merchantville and Pennsauken Township dedicated to providing reliable, safe drinking water. MPWC proudly serves customers in Merchantville and Pennsauken, as well as areas of Cherry Hill and the City of Camden.
For Immediate Release Contact:Caitlin Latko
October 13, 2026 caitlin@thomasboyd.com
