American Water Subsidiaries Reaffirm Environmental Stewardship Ahead of Source Water Protection Week

## American Water Subsidiaries Champion Source Water Protection Initiatives Two regional subsidiaries of American Water Works Company have reaffirmed their commitment to environmental stewardship ahead of the American Water Works Association's (AWWA) annual Source Water Protection Week, scheduled for September 27 to October 3, 2026. Maryland American Water, headquartered in Bel Air, and Virginia American Water, based in Alexandria, each issued statements on September 16, 2026, highlighting the critical importance of protecting rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and aquifers — the primary sources from which drinking water is drawn and treated for public consumption. Source Water Protection Week is a nationally recognised initiative designed to raise awareness among utilities, regulators, and the public about the vulnerabilities facing raw water supplies. For maritime-adjacent communities along the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the Potomac River corridor, the health of these upstream sources has direct implications for coastal water quality, port operations, and the broader marine environment. 'Protecting our rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and aquifers is critical to delivering high-quality drinking water,' both utilities stated in their respective announcements, reflecting a shared corporate priority across American Water's mid-Atlantic operations. The participation of major water utilities in such programmes carries significance beyond municipal supply. Degraded source water quality can affect ballast water management considerations, aquaculture operations, and the ecological health of estuarine systems that support commercial fishing and recreational boating industries throughout the region. American Water Works Company is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States, serving approximately 14 million people across 14 states. Its mid-Atlantic subsidiaries operate within watersheds that drain into some of the East Coast's most commercially active waterways. The AWWA's Source Water Protection Week encourages utilities to engage local stakeholders — including port authorities, industrial operators, and environmental agencies — in collaborative efforts to reduce contamination risks at the source, before water enters treatment systems. *Sources: PR Newswire (Maryland American Water, Virginia American Water, September 16, 2026)*