American Water

Camden, N.J. – September 25, 2026 -- New Jersey American Water has channeled more than $179,000 in grants to 10 state organizations this year to fund watershed protection and PFAS research ahead of AWWA's Source Water Protection Week, running Sept. 27-Oct. 3.

Grant funding targets PFAS tracking and habitat restoration

The funding, distributed through the American Water Charitable Foundation's Water and Environment Grant Program, includes a $35,000 award to The Watershed Institute for stewardship and education programs and a $15,000 grant to the Raritan Headwaters Association to study PFAS movement through the Raritan River watershed. Additional recipients include Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, Great Swamp Watershed Association and Camden's Charter School Network, funding habitat restoration, water quality monitoring and environmental education initiatives.

Camden, N.J. – September 24, 2026 -- New Jersey American Water has appointed Fred DeAndrea as director of Government Affairs and promoted Sakeema M. James to senior manager of Government Affairs, strengthening a team tasked with managing regulatory and legislative relationships as the utility expands infrastructure investment across the state.

DeAndrea joins from Comcast after two decades in New Jersey public policy roles

DeAndrea most recently served as senior director of government and community affairs for New Jersey at Comcast, leading advocacy efforts across the state. He began his career as a district representative for U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews and holds a political science degree from Rutgers University. He has served on the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce board and the Southern New Jersey Development Council.

Camden, N.J. – September 23, 2026 -- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, sent two senior executives to the Financial Research Institute's 35th Annual Public Utility Symposium in Columbia, Missouri, on September 23, 2026, to address surging data center water-energy demand and customer affordability pressures.

Illinois American Water President Warns of AI-Driven Load Growth

Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water, joined the "Intercepting the New Reality" panel, focusing on AI-related load requests, global supply chain constraints, and the water-energy requirements tied to data center expansion. The session placed utility infrastructure planning directly against the accelerating power and water needs of hyperscale computing facilities.

Camden, N.J. – September 21, 2026 -- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the U.S., has been named to the fourth edition of TIME's World's Best Companies list for 2026, a ranking produced with market research firm Statista Inc.

TIME and Statista evaluate 1,000 top global performers across three metrics

The ranking draws on survey data from more than 200,000 employees worldwide to gauge satisfaction, three-year revenue growth figures from Statista's revenue database, and sustainability transparency scored against standardized ESG KPIs. Companies were required to show positive revenue growth over the past three years to qualify for consideration.

American Water secures two additional TIME recognitions this year

Beyond the World's Best Companies list, American Water was also named to TIME's World's Most Sustainable Companies for 2026 and TIME's America's Best Companies for 2026.

Jeffersonville – September 21, 2026 -- The American Water Charitable Foundation has awarded a $25,000 STEM Education Grant to Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, funding a three-part outdoor science program for girls in Southern Indiana.

Grant funds hands-on STEM series covering conservation and pollinator habitats

The award will underwrite a three-part outdoor education series giving Girl Scouts direct experience in scientific research, environmental conservation and pollinator habitat restoration. The grant was announced during a Free Family Fun event at Origin Park earlier this month, where Indiana American Water also deployed a mobile water trailer for attendees.

Belleville, Ill. – September 19, 2026 -- Illinois American Water has completed the $770,000 acquisition of the City of Venice's wastewater collection system, adding roughly 500 customers to its Metro East operations near St. Louis. The deal, approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission on June 24, 2026, shifts Venice's wastewater collection, transportation and treatment fully under the utility's control.

Illinois American Water commits $2.6 million to Venice infrastructure over five years

The company plans upgrades including rehabilitation or replacement of wastewater mains and manholes, lift station improvements, and control and security enhancements at pump and lift stations. Prior to the acquisition, Venice customers received only transportation and treatment services from Illinois American Water; the utility now manages the full collection-to-treatment pipeline.

Bel Air, Md. – September 19, 2026 -- Maryland American Water conducts nearly 1 million tests and measurements annually at American Water's state-of-the-art research laboratories as part of a structured Source Water Protection Program safeguarding rivers, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers.

Utility ties testing regime to AWWA's Source Water Protection Week, September 27 to October 3

The company is highlighting its year-round monitoring and treatment operations ahead of the American Water Works Association's annual observance, themed "Protect the Source" in 2026. Maryland American Water serves approximately 32,000 people as a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK).

Dallas – September 18, 2026 -- American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, has selected VertexOne's VXconnect platform to power a mobile-first digital customer experience across its 14-state footprint.

American Water serves 14 million customers and will deploy its first-ever dedicated mobile app

The utility, which serves more than 14 million people across 14 states, said the platform will let customers manage payments, view usage and request services from any device. The app marks American Water's first dedicated mobile offering.

VXconnect's modular design allows American Water to scale onboarding as its footprint grows

American Water VP and Chief Customer Officer Matt Prine said the platform's modular architecture allows the company to extend capabilities over time and onboard new customer populations while maintaining consistent service quality nationwide.

Gary, Ind. – September 18, 2026 -- Indiana American Water has opened a $2.2 million training center in Gary, bringing the company's total infrastructure and workforce investment in the city to nearly $38 million.

New facility trains workers in real-world water infrastructure scenarios

The training center, located at 650 Madison Street near Borman Park, is designed as an outdoor "mini-city" where employees practice excavation and shoring, utility locating, traffic control, water main tapping, service line work, confined-space procedures, meter installation, and hydrant and water main repair before performing the work in live communities.

Chattanooga, Tenn. – September 18, 2026 -- Tennessee American Water will begin service line material verification work in parts of its Citico Service District the week of September 28, targeting lines currently listed as unknown in company records across Chattanooga, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank and Rossville, GA.

EPA rule requires full lead line replacement by 2037

The verification project supports updated U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules on lead and copper. Both the U.S. EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation require all water utilities to confirm service line materials, including visual inspection, to build a baseline inventory ahead of the federal mandate to replace all lead service lines by 2037.