American Water Works Co. Inc. has issued its second biennial corporate responsibility report, covering performance for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years.
“Providing our customers with high-quality water and wastewater service is our top priority, and this report demonstrates American Water’s commitment to ensure the sustainability of our operations to meet current and future demands,” said Jeff Sterba, president and CEO of American Water. “From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to enhancing customer service and employee engagement, we are focused on conducting business responsibly and delivering sustainable value to our customers, shareholders and the communities we serve.”
American Water’s second biennial report is set against the Global Reporting Index (GRI) guidelines. The GRI G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines include GRI’s Reporting Principles of materiality, sustainability context, stakeholder inclusiveness and completeness. The report is self-declared at GRI Application Level B.
The internally audited report contains detailed performance data. Some of the key accomplishments in the report include the following:
- • American Water reduced GHG emissions by 16.7% from its 2007 base year to 2012. GHG emissions intensity dropped 5.3% over the same period.
- • The company’s Innovation Development Program examined more than 400 technologies to date, and is actively pursuing a number of these innovations through partnerships.
- • The percentage of customers who indicated they were extremely satisfied with American Water increased approximately 10% from 2011 to 2012. On the service quality side, the percentage of customers who indicated they were extremely satisfied with service quality improved approximately 7% from 2011 to 2012.
- • To better serve customers, the company introduced a near real-time payment platform that integrates payment receipt information with pending service orders to both reduce costs and unnecessary communication. American Water’s Customer Service Center received two industry awards for successfully leveraging technology to improve customer service.
- • California American Water received final approval to move forward with the largest dam removal project in California history to further restore the Carmel River, improving river flows and helping to restore biodiversity.
- • American Water’s Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects through partnerships. In 2012, a total of 48 projects throughout American Water’s service areas in 10 states were awarded funding to improve, restore or protect community water supplies and watersheds.
- • In 2011, American Water held its first AmerICANs in Action! Month, designed to foster community service among employees and encourage them to volunteer in communities. More than 800 employees, family members, and friends took part the first year, and participation increased by 12.5% in 2012.
- • In 2011, The company launched the American Water Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to help support American Water employees in their own charitable endeavors, and provide targeted assistance for disaster relief efforts.
The full report can be found at www.amwater.com/crreport.
Source: American Water
