American Water Works Company, Inc.

Overview

American Water Works Company, Inc. is a U.S. water and wastewater utility. Its core business is supplying water and providing wastewater collection and treatment through regulated utilities, with operations in 14 states; it also serves customers on military installations. Its customers include residential, commercial, industrial, public-sector and other users.[1] The company describes its mission as delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services.[2]

American Water says it serves approximately 14 million people and employs about 7,000 professionals.[3] For the year ended December 31, 2025, operating revenues were $5.140 billion.[4] The company traces its history to 1886.[3] [1]+5

Products & services

American Water Works’ principal offerings are water and wastewater utility services. Its water systems store, pump, treat, and deliver water from surface sources, groundwater, or third-party suppliers; its wastewater systems collect, treat, transport, and recycle wastewater. Treatment processes vary with source-water quality and applicable standards.[5]

Through its Contract Services Group, the company provides municipal and industrial water and wastewater system operation, maintenance, management, and design-build-operate services. Its industrial services address water supply, process water, steam, wastewater, residuals, utilities, and by-product reuse. Its Military Services Group owns and operates water and wastewater systems at U.S. military installations.[6]+2

Utility customer services include metered water supply, with readings obtained manually or through electronic meters that transmit data to nearby devices or radio-frequency collectors; wastewater may be billed at a flat rate or based on water use.[9] In 2025, Regulated Businesses generated $4.723 billion, or 92% of company operating revenue. Within that segment, revenue was distributed across residential water (54%), commercial water (21%), public and other water (7%), fire service (4%), industrial water (4%), wastewater (9%), and other (1%).[1][10] [5]+15

Geographic presence

American Water Works’ regulated utility operations span approximately 1,700 communities in 14 states: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Tennessee American Water’s service area also extends into part of northern Georgia. The company reports serving approximately 14 million people.[11]

The company’s corporate headquarters is at 1 Water Street in Camden, New Jersey.[12][13] The 2025 annual report and 2026 second-quarter report reviewed do not provide state-by-state or regional revenue percentages.[14][15] [12]+4

Business segments

American Water Works reports one reportable segment: **Regulated Businesses**, comprising subsidiaries that provide water and wastewater services to customers in 14 states. In FY2025, the segment generated $4.723 billion, approximately **91.9%** of consolidated operating revenues of $5.140 billion.[16][17]

The company presents its remaining activities as **Other**, rather than as a reportable segment. Other businesses are primarily MSG, which provides water and wastewater services to the U.S. government at military installations and to municipalities; the category also includes unallocated corporate costs, certain income and intersegment eliminations, and acquisition-related adjustments. Other reported $417 million in FY2025 revenue, approximately **8.1%** of consolidated operating revenues.[18]+3 [16]+4

Company history

Founded in Pennsylvania in 1886 as American Water Works & Guarantee Company, the business began by building and acquiring water systems in McKeesport. Its official history records a name change to American Water Works and Electric in 1914.[21][22] In 1947, its common stock began trading publicly on the New York Stock Exchange; the company’s timeline records 663,000 customers at that milestone.[21][23]

The company acquired E’Town Corporation in 2001 and was acquired by Germany’s RWE Aktiengesellschaft in 2003.[24][21] On April 28, 2008, American Water completed an IPO and returned to NYSE trading as AWK, with RWE retaining a majority stake at the time. RWE completed its divestiture in November 2009.[25][21] [21]+6

Sources

• American Water Works Company, Inc. — Full financial report (2025 Y)
  12 citations

  [1][4][5][9][10][12][14][16][17][18][19][20]
• www.amwater.com[2]
• www.amwater.com[3]
• www.amwater.com[6]
• www.amwater.com[7]
• www.amwater.com[8]
• www.amwater.com[11]
• www.amwater.com[13]
• American Water Works Company, Inc. — Full financial report (2026 Q 2)[15]
• American Water Works Company, Inc. — Full financial report (2010 Y)
  3 citations

  [21][24][25]
• newsroom.amwater.com[22]
• www.amwater.com[23]