Random Water Facts
This is the name of the largest and deepest ocean.
What is the Pacific Ocean?
How many states does AW provide water to (regulated business)?
200 bonus points if you can name all states
14 states
NJ, PA, VA, WV, MD, IL, IN, KY, IA, MO, TN, GA*, CA, HI
TNAW provides water to parts of northern Georgia
What is the most common media used in water filters?
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon is one of the most popular types of water filtration media which is used to remove chemicals, pesticides and other impurities from water. In this process, activated carbon granules are introduced into the water, where chemicals and pollutants of water get attached to them.
What is the primary agency that regulates drinking water in the US?
he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary agency that regulates drinking water in the United States.
Like most liquids, water contracts (gets smaller) when it freezes. True or False?
False
Water expands (gets less dense) when it freezes, which is unusual for liquids. Think of ice -- it is one of the few items that float as a solid.
True or False?
AW is a part of S&P 500 Index (index of 500 largest companies in the US).
True
In 2016 American Water became part of Standard & Poor’s 500 Index – the only water utility included in the index.
What were some of the water treatment methods recorded by ancient civilizations? Name at least 2 out of 4.
Hint: some are still used at modern water treatment facilities.
Methods to improve the taste and odor of drinking water were recorded as early as 4000 B.C. Ancient Sanskrit and Greek writings recommended water treatment methods such as filtering through charcoal, exposing to sunlight, boiling, and straining.
True or False
Regulation of drinking water in the US started in 19th century.
False
It started in 20th century
Federal regulation of drinking water quality began in 1914, when the U.S. Public Health Service Act set standards for the bacteriological quality (coliform growth) of drinking water.
The percentage of water on Earth is freshwater?
3%
Only 1% is in liquid state
What year was American Water founded?
Founded in 1886 as the American Water Works & Guarantee Company
In what century chlorine was first used to disinfect drinking water?
19th century
*One of the first reported uses of chlorination for the disinfection of water supplies was in 1897, when bleach solution was used to disinfect a water main in Maidstone, UK, following an outbreak of typhoid.
*according to National Center for Biotechnology Information
When was the use of lead solder in plumbing banned in the United States?
1986
Congress Amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, prohibiting the use of pipes, solder or flux that were not “lead free” in public water systems or plumbing in facilities providing water for human consumption.
Name 3 US states that have largest numbers of desalination plants.
Florida - 167
California - 58
Texas - 52
*according to 2018 Survey of US Municipal Desalination Plants
When did AW become a public company and what is it's ticker symbol?
American Water became a public company in 1947 under John Ware and the ticker symbol AWK, starting with a base of 663,000 customers.
In what century was the first patent for water filter issued?
18th century
The first patent for a water filter was issued in 1746 in France, made of charcoal, sponges, and wool.
In April 2024, the EPA finalized a rule to set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for these substances in drinking water.
What is the common name for these substances?
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water, and oil. They are also known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down easily in the environment.
PFAS have been used in many consumer products and industrial applications since the 1950s, including: carpeting, waterproof clothing, upholstery, food paper wrappings, personal care products, fire-fighting foams, metal plating.
The largest body of freshwater on Earth
Lake Baikal
Located in southern Siberia. Contains around 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water.
Name 3 largest shareholders of AW.
Vanguard Group Inc - 12.68%
Blackrock Inc - 9.50%
State Street Corporation - 5.79%
*as of June 30, 2024
Name the first city in the US that started routine disinfection of community drinking water.
Jersey City, NJ in 1908
Per CDC, in 1900, the occurrence of typhoid fever in the United States was approximately 100 cases per 100,000 people. By 1920, it had decreased to 33.8 cases per 100,000 people. In 2006, it had decreased to 0.1 cases per 100,000 people (only 353 cases) with approximately 75% occurring among international travelers. This decrease in illness is credited to the implementation of drinking water disinfection and treatment, improving the quality of source water, and improvements in sanitation and hygiene.
What was the first major US law to address water pollution.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948