Core Viewpoint - H2O America announces the retirement of Eric W. Thornburg as non-executive chair of the board, effective January 31, 2026, after a distinguished career with the company, including roles as chair, president, and CEO [1][2] Leadership Transition - Andrew F. Walters, the current CEO, has been appointed as the new chair of the board effective February 1, 2026, with confidence in his ability to lead the company with stability and a long-term focus on customer service [3] Company Overview - H2O America is a national investor-owned network of local water and wastewater utilities, dedicated to delivering clean, high-quality water to communities [5] - The company operates approximately 407,000 water and wastewater service connections, investing in critical infrastructure to ensure sustainable water supply for future generations [6] - H2O America serves over 1.6 million people through its four regional water utilities: Connecticut Water, Maine Water, San Jose Water, and Texas Water [7]

Core Points - York Water declared a quarterly dividend of $0.228 per share in November 2025, representing a 4.0% increase from the prior year [1] - The company has maintained a dividend payment streak that extends over a decade [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses the journey towards achieving financial independence through dividend growth investing, highlighting the importance of financial freedom in reducing stress and shifting focus towards personal goals [1]. Group 1 - The author has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since 2009 [1]. - The blog "Kody's Dividends" documents the author's journey towards financial independence, emphasizing the role of dividend growth investing in this process [1]. - The author expresses gratitude for the blog's role in connecting with the Seeking Alpha community as an analyst [1].

Core Insights - California Water Service (Cal Water) has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for its acquisition of Palm Mutual Water Company, aiming to provide long-term safe and reliable water services to its customers [1][3] Company Overview - Cal Water is the largest subsidiary of California Water Service Group, serving over 2.1 million people through approximately 499,400 service connections across California [4] - The company is committed to enhancing the quality of life for its customers and communities by investing in water and wastewater infrastructure and sustainability initiatives [4] Acquisition Details - Palm Mutual currently serves 63 residential customers and is located two miles from Cal Water's Northeast Bakersfield Treatment Plant [2] - Cal Water plans to upgrade Palm Mutual's infrastructure to ensure consistent and high-quality water services [2] - Upon finalization of the acquisition, Palm Mutual customers will be integrated into Cal Water's Bakersfield District, which currently serves about 445,600 people through around 120,000 service connections [3] Future Expectations - The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions [3]

Core Viewpoint - Badger Meter, Inc. is implementing executive leadership changes to align with strategic priorities and enhance market leadership in cellular Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) [1] Group 1: Executive Leadership Changes - The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026 [1] - Ken Bockhorst, the current Chairman, President, and CEO, expressed excitement about the new management structure [1]

Core Points - Tallinna Vesi signed a €25 million loan agreement with the Nordic Investment Bank to finance investments in 2025–2026, with total investments amounting to €60 million for each year [1][2] - The investments aim to reduce environmental impact and enhance cost efficiency, aligning with the Tallinn Public Water Supply and Sewerage Development Plan [1][3] - The loan will specifically fund the modernization of Tallinn's wastewater infrastructure, including the reconstruction of up to 18 kilometers of the wastewater network and upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant [2][3] Financial and Operational Details - The loan agreement has a duration of 15 years and is part of a financing structure established in 2023 [4] - AS Tallinna Vesi is the largest water utility in Estonia, serving approximately 25,000 private and business customers and around 500,000 end consumers in Tallinn and nearby municipalities [5] - The ownership structure includes the City of Tallinn holding 55.06% and the energy group Utilitas holding 20.36%, with 24.58% of shares freely floating on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange [5]

Core Insights - American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) has acquired Yerba Buena Water Company, adding nearly 250 customers through this acquisition, marking the ninth acquisition for California American Water since 2020, which has resulted in a total of 13,000 new customers [1][10] Company Activities - California American Water is actively expanding its operations through acquisitions, with a focus on enhancing service quality and infrastructure investments for the newly acquired assets [2] - American Water Works has completed 12 acquisitions across five states as of October 29, 2025, adding 17,500 new customers, with 22 pending acquisitions expected to add another 60,100 customers [5][10] Industry Context - The U.S. water industry is highly fragmented, consisting of over 50,000 community water systems and 14,000 wastewater treatment facilities, with many smaller providers facing financial constraints that hinder infrastructure upgrades [3] - Consolidation through mergers and acquisitions is essential for improving service quality, reducing operating costs, and enabling larger-scale infrastructure investments [4] Infrastructure Needs - The U.S. water utilities manage approximately 2.2 million miles of aging pipelines, with significant portions nearing the end of their effective service life, necessitating upgrades and replacements [6] - The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $1.25 trillion will be required over the next 20 years to maintain and upgrade drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems [6] Competitor Investments - Essential Utilities (WTRG) plans to invest $7.8 billion from 2025 to 2029 to upgrade its water and natural gas pipeline systems and has entered into a merger agreement with American Water Works [7] - American States Water Company (AWR) aims to invest $180-$210 million in 2025 for infrastructure upgrades, while Middlesex Water Company (MSEX) plans to invest $387 million from 2025 to 2027 for various improvements [8][9]

Core Viewpoint - Pennsylvania American Water is urging customers to voluntarily reduce nonessential water use by 10-15% due to an expanded drought watch declaration by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) [1][2]. Group 1: Drought Watch Declaration - The DEP expanded its drought watch declaration to 37 counties, with 17 of those counties served by Pennsylvania American Water [2][3]. - A drought watch is the first and least severe level in Pennsylvania's three drought classifications, based on public water supply levels and indicators such as precipitation and groundwater levels [3]. Group 2: Water Conservation Efforts - Pennsylvania American Water provides various resources for water conservation, including an online Water Use Calculator and tips shared through email campaigns and social media [4]. - The company encourages practices such as running dishwashers and washing machines only when full, checking for leaks, and using water-saving fixtures [7]. Group 3: Company Overview - Pennsylvania American Water is the largest regulated water utility in the state, serving approximately 2.4 million people with a workforce of 1,200 employees [8]. - The parent company, American Water, is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the U.S., providing services to over 14 million people across 14 states [5].

This marks California American Water's ninth acquisition in the past five years, adding more than 13,000 new water and/or wastewater customers since 2020. SAN DIEGO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- California American Water announced today that it has completed its acquisition of the Yerba Buena Water Company water system. The purchase of the system, which serves approximately 250 customers, was previously approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and reflects California American Wa ...

Core Insights - Illinois American Water's Interurban District completed significant upgrades to its water treatment plant in 2025, focusing on service reliability, water quality, and operational efficiencies [1][2][4] Investment and Upgrades - Since 2019, $157 million has been invested in upgrades and enhancements to the Metro East regional water treatment plant [1] - The upgrades include construction of an elevated water storage tank, new raw water pumps, a new diesel backup pump, and a new ultraviolet water treatment system [7] Capacity and Service - The water treatment plant serves approximately 75,000 direct customers, equating to a population of over 350,000 in the Metro East [3] - The plant meets a daily demand of approximately 39.3 million gallons, with a maximum daily demand of about 47.7 million gallons [5] Economic Impact - The investments in water and wastewater infrastructure have created over 1,500 jobs in the Metro East region, with a reported economic ripple effect of 10 jobs created for every $1 million invested [8] Recognition and Standards - The East St. Louis water treatment plant is a member of the Partnership for Safe Water, a national initiative recognizing water suppliers that exceed EPA regulatory requirements [9]