Press Release

Company Highlights Ongoing Efforts to Combat PFAS and Replace Lead Service Lines

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2024-- Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, a landmark legislation safeguarding public health. To commemorate this milestone, Essential—through its water utility, Aqua—is reinforcing its efforts to protect water quality.

“The Safe Drinking Water Act has been the cornerstone of safe drinking water protection for the past five decades,” said Christopher Franklin, chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities. “At Essential, we lead by action — tackling PFAS contamination and replacing lead service lines ahead of federal mandates and investing in infrastructure modernization. It’s through these efforts that we continue to protect public health, exceed regulatory standards, and ensure safe, reliable water for the communities we serve today and for generations to come.”

Combating PFAS and Lead Service Lines

Aqua is actively addressing PFAS contamination by investing significantly in advanced treatment technologies and conducting rigorous monitoring. Additionally, the company is accelerating the identification and replacement of lead service lines across its eight-state footprint, prioritizing public health and safety.

As part of its commitment to water system resilience and sustainability, Aqua is investing $765 million in capital improvements in 2024, with plans to invest more than $800 million in 2025. Most of this investment will fund aging water main replacement to ensure compliance with new and increasingly stringent water quality regulations, including $89 million in PFAS mitigation and $44 million in lead service line investigation and replacement.

“The 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act is a moment to celebrate the progress we’ve made and reaffirm our commitment to delivering safe, reliable water to the communities we serve,” said Colleen Arnold, president of Aqua. “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Every day, our team works diligently to ensure our water systems not only meet but exceed state and federal standards, protect public health, and adapt to future challenges. We’re proud to continue upholding the principles of the Safe Drinking Water Act for the benefit of our customers and their families.”

Visit AquaWater.com to learn more about Essential's commitment to water quality.

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which generally include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions. The Company can give no assurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent its views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements relating to the capital to be invested by the water, wastewater, and gas distribution divisions of the Company. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with The Company’s business, please refer to the Company’s annual, quarterly and other SEC filings. The Company is not under any obligation - and expressly disclaims any such obligation - to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218044447/en/

Media:
Patrick Wenger
Aqua Communications Manager
Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477
Media@Essential.co

Investor Contact
Brian Dingerdissen
Vice President, IR and Treasurer
O: 610.645.1191
BJDingerdissen@Essential.co

Source: Essential Utilities Inc.