American Water Sustainability Profile
American Water Works Company, Inc., commonly known as American Water, is a leading provider of water and wastewater services in the United States. Headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, the company operates across various regions, including the Midwest, Northeast, and West, serving millions of customers. Founded in 1886, American Water has established itself as a pioneer in the water utility industry, achieving significant milestones such as the introduction of innovative water treatment technologies. The company offers a range of core services, including water distribution, wastewater treatment, and water quality management, distinguished by its commitment to sustainability and community engagement. As a market leader, American Water is recognised for its operational excellence and has received numerous accolades for its environmental stewardship and customer service. With a strong focus on infrastructure investment and modernisation, American Water continues to set the standard in the water utility sector.
DitchCarbon Score
How does American Water's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Steam and Hot Water Supply industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
American Water's score of 36 is higher than 61% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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American Water's reported carbon emissions
In 2024, American Water reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 499,725,000 kg CO2e, comprising 430,362,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 and 69,363,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 emissions. The company has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by more than 40% by 2025, using a 2007 baseline. This target reflects a significant commitment to sustainability and aligns with industry standards for greenhouse gas reduction. For the year 2023, American Water's emissions in the US were approximately 534,773,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at 459,896,000 kg CO2e and Scope 2 emissions at 74,877,000 kg CO2e. The company has also committed to achieving net zero absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2050, further demonstrating its long-term dedication to climate action. The emissions data is sourced from American Water Works Company, Inc., with no cascaded data from a parent organization. The company continues to track its progress towards these targets, which are crucial for mitigating climate change impacts within the water utility sector.
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| 2007 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | - | - | - | - | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | - | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | - | - | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | - | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 000,000,000 | - | 000,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is American Water's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is American Water's Location?
American Water's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
American Water's Scope 3 emissions, which increased by 28% last year and increased by approximately 28% since 2022, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Most of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 60% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Capital Goods" being the largest emissions source at 62% of Scope 3 emissions.
Top Scope 3 Categories
American Water's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
American Water has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
