Feb 28, 2020   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Essential Utilities Inc. Announces Industry-Leading Commitments for Its Water Business

Today, Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) announced new commitments to environmental and community health by launching two industry-leading standards for its Aqua family of water utilities. As unveiled to shareholders during Essential’s 2020 Investor Day on Feb. 27, the company will take bold steps related to PFAS mitigation and its investment in renewable energy.

Essential announced an innovative and proactive step in standardizing its activities to address the presence of the contaminants Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), which are a part of the PFAS family of chemicals, in drinking water across the eight-state Aqua footprint. Beginning in 2020, Essential will make the necessary capital investment in the range of tens of millions of dollars over several years to install mitigation technology at water treatment facilities where source water exceeds 13 parts per trillion (ppt) for any of the three PFAS. PFAS are a concern in communities across the country where groundwater is believed to have been contaminated by nearby military bases or other causes.

Setting a company-wide standard of 13 ppt will enable Essential to address the contaminant uniformly across its footprint, which includes nearly 1,500 water systems in eight states. Currently, the EPA’s PFAS non-enforceable health advisory level is 70 ppt. Although the EPA announced last week it will move to set an enforceable standard around PFOA and PFOS in the future, that federal standard is a few years away. Meanwhile, several states have established or proposed mandatory standards that are much lower, based on the states’ view of the most current science on PFAS exposure risks. Essential chose its standard of 13 ppt for PFOA, PFOS and PFNA to reflect the standards adopted or proposed by New Jersey, which are the most stringent standards adopted in any state in which Aqua does business. Essential believes its decision to apply the New Jersey science-based standard in the interim, while a federal standard is being developed, is in the best interest of its customers and the communities it serves.

“Since the EPA’s health advisory was released in 2016, we have taken proactive measures to ensure that the water we provide outperforms guidance for the contaminant," said Chief Environmental Officer Christopher Crockett. “While we applaud the EPA’s efforts to address PFOA and PFOS at the national level, enforceable federal standards for these contaminants appear to be more than a year away from being introduced, and any guidance around PFNA could have an even longer timetable. As we await these guidelines from the EPA, Essential is proud to lead the industry in setting a company-wide standard that meets the science-based levels being established in New Jersey.”

Also on Thursday, Essential announced it will greatly reduce its carbon footprint by utilizing 100% renewable energy to power water and wastewater operations at Aqua’s Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania businesses by 2022. Essential has committed to following the Paris Agreement, the United Nations’ plan to combat climate change, by committing to achieve a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This target is based on the company’s 2018 emissions baseline and is in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s broader efforts to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The commitment will also significantly lower the company’s overall energy spend.

This progressive move builds upon the substantial investment in renewable energy already underway in Essential’s Aqua Texas operations. The Aqua utilities will continue to seek opportunities to expand their renewable energy programs to additional service areas wherever possible.

“Our Aqua water utilities have been in the business of practicing sustainability and corporate social responsibility for more than 130 years. In today’s social and environmental climate, these commitments are more critical than ever,” said Essential Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. “Now, as a part of Essential, Aqua’s water utilities continue to lead the industry as responsible water providers to more than 3 million people across eight states.”

Essential has published tear sheets regarding updated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosures and policies on its website. The company plans to issue an updated ESG report later this year. More information can be found by visiting www.essential.co.

About Aqua

As an Essential company, Aqua serves over 3 million people through its Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia water utilities. Visit www.AquaAmerica.com for more information and follow Aqua on social @MyAquaAmerica.

About Essential

Following the closing of the Peoples acquisition, Essential will be one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential will be committed to proactive infrastructure investment, regulatory expertise, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship. The company recognizes the importance of water and natural gas in everyday life and is proud to deliver safe, reliable services that contribute to the quality of life in the communities it serves. For more information, visit 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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