American Water is an American public utility company operating in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1886 as the American Water Works & Guarantee Company. In 1914, American Water Works and Guarantee Company became American Water Works and Electric Company. In 1947 it was reorganized as American Water Works Company, Inc. The company was a subsidiary of the German-based RWE Group from 2001 to 2008, but the company was divested on April 23, 2008 in an IPO on the NYSE.
Most of American Water's services are locally managed utility subsidiaries that are regulated by the U.S. state in which each operates. American Water also owns subsidiaries that manage municipal drinking water and wastewater systems under contract and others that supply businesses and residential communities with water management products and services. In 2003, American Water established the American Water Military Services Group, which serves as contracted water utility for several military bases in the United States. Military Services Group works with the United States Military to treat and supply water and to collect and treat wastewater for military installations all over the country. Most recently American Water Military Services Group provides services to 11 military bases.
American Water Works Company provides services such as water line protection, sewer line protection, an in-home plumbing emergency program, electric line protection, heating system protection, cooling system protection, power surge protection and water heater protection.
With headquarters in Voorhees, New Jersey, American Water has about 6,800 employees and provides services to approximately 15 million people in 47 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada.
As of 2017 American Water shares are mainly held by institutional investors (Vanguard group, BlackRock, State Street Corporation and others)
Water quality for citizens’ health is protected with American Water Company through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). USEPA has protected citizens since 1974 and has set the station all standards for safe drinking water. Though USEPA enforces safe drinking standards, private and public water suppliers are still responsible for the water quality that flows from the tap.
See also
American Water: Largest Water and Wastewater Utility in the US - With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly-traded water and wastewater utility ...
- Public services
References
- Notes
- General sources
- RWE Plans to Sell Two Water Utilities
- Water Company Makes Case for IPO
- [1]
- [2]
Further reading
- Cross, Gilbert (1991). A dynasty of water: the story of American Water Works Company. Voorhees, N.J.: American Water Works Co. ISBNÂ 0961904917.Â
External links
- American Water.com: company history
- American Water.com: About us
