American Water Named One of 'America's Top Green Companies'

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

American Water Works Company, Inc. AWK, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, has been named to Newsweek's list of 500 of America's Top Green Companies for 2016, making it the only water utility on the list.

As a water utility company serving 15 million people, American Water's sustainability practices are vital to American Water's core business of providing clean, safe, reliable water and wastewater services. The company has a robust corporate responsibility program that focuses on four key areas, including the environment. Some recent accomplishments include:

• American Water's water quality record is industry-leading. The company has consistently achieved over 99 percent compliance with federal and state drinking water standards over the past several years, and has earned more awards from the EPA's Partnership for Safe Water than any other water utility company.
• American Water made a public commitment to achieve a 16 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2017 from 2007 levels. This goal surpassed the national agenda and led the water industry. The company's total GHG emissions in 2015 (644,654 metric tons) were 24.5 percent lower than in 2007.
• Over the last four years, American Water has refurbished or replaced 140 water pumps. This is expected to yield energy savings of 12 million kilowatt-hours per year and a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions of 18 million pounds per year.
• In 2015, the company 30 pump refurbishment projects and through energy efficiency projects reduced energy use by 10,000 megawatt-hours (MWh).
• Conservation efforts in 2015, particularly in drought stricken California - but also through the company, reduced water use by 3.5 billion gallons compared to 2014 levels.
• In 2014 (the latest data available), American Water reduced its total treatment residuals (the sediment and chemical waste from water or wastewater purification) by 14.6 percent compared to 2013 levels.
• American Water's research team has been awarded more than 90 competitive research grants and received five U.S. patents based on its research. In 2015, American Water invested $4.2 million for research and development activities designed to enhance services, ensure water quality and environmental compliance, and shape a more sustainable future.

American Water issued its first bi-annual Corporate Responsibility Report in 2011, becoming the first large water services company to measure its performance against the Global Reporting Index. In an effort to reduce paper consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, in 2009, American Water began providing a virtual annual report to stockholders; in 2010, the company began hosting virtual stockholder meetings. Additionally, in 2012, 2013 and 2015, American Water was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index.

More information can be found in the Corporate Responsibility section of the company's website at http://www.amwater.com/corporate-responsibility/.

The Newsweek Green Rankings are one of the world's most recognized assessments of corporate environmental performance. In partnership with Corporate Knights, HIP (Human Impact + Profit) Investor Inc., and leading sustainability minds from nongovernmental organizations and the academic and accounting communities, Newsweek has ranked the world's largest companies on corporate sustainability and environmental impact. The listing can be found at http://www.newsweek.com/green-2016/top-green-companies-us-2016.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. Marking its 130th anniversary this year, the company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

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