Company reduces emissions, modernizes infrastructure, and invests in communities while delivering safe, reliable service
Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG), one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, showcasing measurable progress on the company's long-term commitments to the environment, its employees and the communities it serves. The company continued on its path towards robust emissions reduction and infrastructure modernization goals while maintaining exceptional service standards and community investment.
Key progress in 2024 includes:
- Achieved more than 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 baseline
- Delivered water quality well above national average, with fewer than 1.5% of Essential's 1,500+ water systems experiencing health-based violations, compared to a rate of nearly 12.5% for all water systems across America
- Replaced 425 miles of aging natural gas and water pipelines—part of more than 1,400 miles of natural gas and 725 miles of water lines upgraded since 2020, significantly reducing methane emissions, addressing water loss, and improving safety and reliability
- Installed 30,000 state-of-the-art gas meters, bringing our total to more than 60,000 installed to date, enhancing safety for customers and employees
- Recycled over 720 million gallons of treated wastewater, giving water a second life and protecting freshwater sources
- Donated $4.6 million to more than 450 nonprofits through the Essential Foundation, and logged nearly 4,500 employee volunteer hours
- Procured nearly 100% renewable electricity for water and wastewater operations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Illinois
"Protecting and providing Earth's most essential resources is our purpose, and responsible business practices are foundational to who we are as a company," said Chris Franklin, Chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities. "Our sustainability commitments mean so much more than just checking a box—they're integral to our future success. As we mark five years since bringing Aqua and Peoples together under Essential Utilities, our combined expertise and scale have enabled us to make a greater impact. I'm proud of our progress and excited to build on this momentum."
Looking ahead, Essential is pioneering energy innovation through its partnership with Pittsburgh-based H Quest and the University of Pittsburgh, exploring the safe transport of hydrogen through its natural gas delivery systems to further reduce emissions.
Essential releases comprehensive sustainability reports every two years that track against key reporting frameworks and indices, including Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosures, a Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, a Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire, and the American Gas Association sustainability template.
Explore the 2024 Sustainability Report at sustainability.essential.co.
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 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 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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