American Water is the largest publicly traded water utility in the United States.

Key Facts and Figures (2010)

Headquarters: Voorhees, N.J.

CEO: Jeff Sterba

Population served: 15 million people

Revenues: $2.7 billion

Net income: $268 million

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

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Case Studies

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.

East

Knox, Pennsylvania: Stopping privatization

Trenton, New Jersey: Stopping privatization

South

Lexington, Kentucky: Ongoing fight for public water

Midwest

O’Fallon, Missouri: A victory for public water

Urbana, Illinois: Ongoing fight for public water

West

Cave Creek, Arizona: A victory for pubic water

Felton, California: A victory for public water

Montara, California: A victory for public water

Monterey, California: Ongoing fight for public water