Essential Utilities Marks Drinking Water Week 2026 With Record Infrastructure Investment, Industry-Leading Compliance

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PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used in many everyday products, such as non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, and food packaging, because they resist heat, water, and grease. They are often called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body, potentially leading to health concerns. For investors, the presence of PFAS-related risks can impact companies’ reputations, legal liabilities, and future costs.

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Maximum contaminant levels are legally set limits on how much of a specific harmful substance can be present in things like drinking water, soil, or industrial discharges. Think of them as safety speed limits: exceed them and a company may face fines, cleanup costs, halted operations or lost permits, while meeting them can reduce liability and protect asset value. Investors watch these limits because they affect compliance costs, legal risk and long‑term profitability.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a U.S. government agency that sets and enforces rules to limit pollution and protect air, water, and land. For investors, EPA actions can change costs and legal obligations for companies—like forcing upgrades, restricting products, or enabling cleanup funding—so it can affect profits, project timelines, and long-term business plans much like a city’s building code can shape construction costs and timelines.

Company invested a record $791 million in water and wastewater infrastructure in 2025, achieved 99.91% regulatory compliance, and is accelerating a $450 million PFAS capital plan to protect drinking water quality across eight states

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) joins communities across North America in celebrating Drinking Water Week (May 3–9, 2026), the annual observance led by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) that recognizes the critical role safe, clean drinking water plays in public health and quality of life.

As the company marks this year’s celebration, Essential Utilities reflects on a year of record performance through its water utility, Aqua – delivering safe, reliable water service to more than 1.1 million customers across eight states while investing nearly $791 million in water and wastewater infrastructure, the largest annual capital investment in the company’s history.

"Drinking Water Week is a chance to recognize what our teams deliver every day: safe, clean, reliable water to millions of families, businesses and communities who depend on us,” said Christopher Franklin, chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities. "In 2025, we set a new record for infrastructure investment, advanced our comprehensive PFAS remediation program, and maintained industry-leading compliance rates. We operate every day in the pursuit of excellence, and this is what it looks like.”

Aqua's water operations achieved a 99.91% compliance rate in 2025, consistently outperforming national benchmarks for water quality and reflecting the company’s rigorous approach to monitoring, treatment and distribution. That commitment is backed by a state-of-the-art Environmental Laboratory in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and more than 1,500 Aqua employees, including water quality scientists, engineers and field operators, who work 24/7 to ensure customers receive water that meets or exceeds federal and state standards.

The company is also a national leader in addressing PFAS contamination, executing a $450 million multi-year capital plan to ensure finished water does not exceed federal maximum contaminant levels for the six EPA-regulated PFAS chemicals.

Investing in the Future

Essential Utilities invested a record $1.4 billion across its regulated water and natural gas systems in 2025 and has committed to $1.7 billion in infrastructure investment in 2026. These investments modernize aging pipelines, fund treatment plant upgrades, and improve monitoring technology to ensure safe, reliable service for future generations.

Beyond the pipes, Essential is a dedicated steward of the natural lands and watersheds that make safe drinking water possible. The company protects thousands of acres of forests and sensitive habitats throughout its footprint.

Visit AquaWater.com for more information about water quality programs and learn more about Essential’s broader commitment at sustainability.Essential.co.

About Essential

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivers safe, 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, donating more than $4 million from the Essential Foundation each year, and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting thousands of acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 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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Patrick Wenger
Aqua Communications Manager
Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477
Media@Essential.co

Source: Essential Utilities, Inc.