California American Water to Purchase the Operating Assets of Meadowbrook Water Company of Merced

California American Water has signed a contract to acquire the Meadowbrook Water Company and assume domestic water services within Meadowbrook’s service area.

Meadowbrook, based in Merced County, is an investor-owned utility regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. The purchase of the systems will add approximately 1,650 water service connections to California American Water's customer base in California’s Central Valley.

California American Water currently supplies water service to nearly 600,000 Californians about 1/3 of which are in the Central Valley. Meadowbrook customers will be served by California American Water's water treatment and distribution operators who are experts in their fields and are certified through the California Department of Public Health.

"As a result of this acquisition, Meadowbrook customers will have access to a range of customer services," said California American Water's Director of Northern California Operations Audie Foster. "Our services include a customer service center available for emergencies, language translation, web self-service, paperless billing, and our H2O Help to Others Program, which provides Low Income Rate Assistance to customers such as seniors on low, fixed incomes and to families facing financial hardships. California American Water’s conservation programs, including in-home water efficiency programs and rebates, will help Meadowbrook customers in their wise use of water."

"This is most certainly a positive step to securing long-term quality service for our customers at Meadowbrook," said Meadowbrook Water Company owner David Walker.

The purchase of Meadowbrook Water Company is underway and California American Water will be filing for approval with the California Public Utilities Commission.

California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high quality and reliable water and/or wastewater service to approximately 600,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150722006503/en/

California American WaterKevin TildenDirector, External [e-mail]