Essential to donate $500,000 to local environmental organizations, employees to participate in dozens of volunteer events

Essential Utilities Inc. launched its third annual Essential Earth Day, a month-long celebration of volunteer events, donations and employee education opportunities, which will run through the end of April and support the company’s mission of protecting and providing Earth’s most essential resources and investing in the communities it serves.

“Earth Day is a powerful reminder of the vital link between safe drinking water, essential resources and the well-being of our planet and communities,” said Essential Utilities Chairman and CEO Chris Franklin. “By launching our initiatives on World Water Day, we demonstrate our unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the people we serve. It’s a natural fit for a company dedicated to environmental stewardship all year long.”

Essential team members will participate in dozens of volunteer events in partnership with local environmental organizations. The activities include cleaning up litter from streams, planting trees and gardens, marking storm drains and enhancing outdoor recreation sites.

Planned 2024 activities include:

• River and trail cleanups in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky to protect waterways and natural areas, with partners such as: the Schuylkill Action Network, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Natural Lands, National Aviary, Triangle Land Conservancy and the City of Ashtabula.
• Planting events in Pennsylvania and North Carolina with partners such as Patriots Cove, Tree Pittsburgh and Airlie Gardens.
• Donations to environmental causes including Trees for Watersheds grant program with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, various exhibits and initiatives at Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, a conference for land conservation professionals and an Ohio River sweep.
• Employee education events including lessons on urban gardening for wildlife and how local conservation can build climate resiliency.

Essential Earth Day is part of the company’s comprehensive commitment to the environment and the communities it serves. Since the initiative launched in 2022, Essential has donated $1.5 million and more than 800 employees have participated in over 70 events, logging 3,200 hours to support environmental causes, including litter cleanups, reforestation projects and other conservation efforts.

In 2023, Essential donated more than $5.5 million to organizations that support Essential’s mission, vision and values and enhance quality of life for its customers. Essential employees across the water and gas segments volunteered 4,700 hours, supporting more than 450 organizations over its 9-state service area.

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve, donating more than $4 million from the Essential Foundation each year, and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

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