American Water’s Visionaire Project Receives Environmental Award

American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced today that it has earned a Project Merit award in the 2009 Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) Business Achievement Awards. American Water was recognized in the Water/Wastewater category for developing a sustainable water treatment solution at the Visionaire, a luxury residential condominium in New York City's Battery Park City. The 2009 EBJ awards will be presented in a ceremony at Environmental Industry Summit VIII, an annual three-day event, in Coronado, Calif. on March 3, 2010.

The Visionaire is the fifth in a series of green residential buildings with water recycling systems designed and operated by American Water’s Applied Water Management Group. Developed by the Albanese Organization and designed by architect Rafael Pelli, the Visionaire is a 33-story, 251-unit tower that is considered to be the greenest high-rise residential condominium in the United States. The Visionaire features a central water filtration system and advanced wastewater treatment system with a capacity to recycle 25,000 gallons per day for toilet flushing and air-conditioning cooling systems, and a stormwater collection system that captures and stores up to 12,000 gallons to irrigate the building’s rooftop gardens and adjacent park. These water-saving measures along with energy and water efficient appliances allow the Visionaire to use 55 percent less potable water than a residential development of similar size.

“It is gratifying to see the Visionaire receive this recognition from the environmental community,” said Tim Davies, President of Applied Water Management. “We hope that our work in this area helps pave the way for more residential developments to implement water recycling systems to help achieve sustainability and ease the strain on water infrastructure and supplies.”

This is the second time American Water has been recognized by the EBJ awards. In 2008, the Solaire, which was the first of these five green residential buildings in Battery Park City, was awarded a Project Merit in the Water/Wastewater category.

The Environmental Business Journal Achievement Awards annually recognize companies and executives for environmental achievements seen as outperforming the market. American Water will be among the winners featured in Environmental Business Journal’s Executive Review issue in late January.

The Applied Water Management Group of American Water is headquartered in Hillsborough, N.J., and provides customized water and wastewater management solutions to real estate developers, industrial clients, and small to midsized communities. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.