Corporate Profile

American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water utility company. American Water has come under fire from communities across the country for charging high rates, providing poor service, endangering public safety and lacking public accountability.

Key Figures (2012)

Headquarters: Voorhees, N.J.

Population served: 14 million people

CEO: Jeff Sterba

Total Compensation: $3.8 million

Revenues: $2.9 billion

Net income: $358 million

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History: A Failed German Conquest 

German energy corporation RWE bought American Water in 2003 only to sell it off just a few years later. By the end of 2009, RWE had completely divested from American Water.

Leaked minutes from a RWE board meeting revealed that American Water had failed to meet any of its targets and that “considerable political resistance to privatization of the water sector” was a major factor in its failure to thrive.

• Read our press release on RWE’s leaked board minutes and download a copy of the minutes.
• Read the U.S. Mayors’ joint statement to RWE urging RWE to allow interested municipalities to negotiate the purchase of their water utilities before RWE proceeds with an IPO for American Water.
• Read our press release on American Water’s IPO: RWE unloads American Water on Wall Street

Case Studies

Arizona: A victory for public water in Cave Creek

California: A victory for public water in Montara

California: A victory for public water in Felton

California: Ongoing fight for public water in Monterey

Kentucky: Ongoing fight for public water in Lexington

Missouri: A victory for public water in O’Fallon

Illinois: Ongoing fight for public water in Urbana

New Jersey: Stopping privatization in Trenton 

Pennsylvania: Stopping privatization in Knox