The York Water
The York Water Company is the oldest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the United States, founded in 1816. It supplies potable water and wastewater services to over 212,000 customers across 57–58 municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania under a regulated monopoly model with rates set by the PA PUC.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1816
- HeadquartersYork, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The York Water does
The York Water Company is the oldest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the United States, founded in 1816 and headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. The company supplies potable water and wastewater services to more than 212,000 residents across 57–58 municipalities spanning York, Adams, Franklin, and Lancaster counties in South-Central Pennsylvania, treating and distributing over 24 million gallons of water daily through company-owned reservoirs (Lake Williams, Lake Redman), filter plants, pump stations, and distribution mains. Its recently completed Lake Williams Dam rehabilitation — incorporating roller-compacted concrete armoring, labyrinth spillway weirs, and modern control systems — earned the 2024 National Rehabilitation Project of the Year award from ASDSO and the 2024 ENR Regional Best Projects Award of Merit.
The company operates under a regulated monopoly business model: rates are set by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission through rate case proceedings, generating recurring monthly revenue from residential, commercial, and industrial customers via volume-based and fixed service charges. A Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) provides incremental capital recovery between rate cases. In February 2026, the PA PUC approved a rate increase supporting a $145 million infrastructure investment program through February 2027, expected to add $18.85 million in annual revenue (~24% step-up from 2025 levels). The company invested $48.7 million in capital projects in 2025 and executed two small wastewater system acquisitions in Q1 2026, signaling a continued roll-up strategy in adjacent wastewater assets.
York Water is a publicly traded company on NASDAQ (YORW) with 210 consecutive years of dividend payments — the longest uninterrupted dividend record among U.S. investor-owned utilities. In April 2026, the company closed a public offering of 1,521,739 shares at $28.50, generating approximately $41.4 million in net proceeds earmarked for the capital investment program, debt repayment, and potential acquisitions. Management is led by President & CEO Joseph Thomas Hand, supported by CFO Matthew E. Poff, CAO/General Counsel Alexandra C. Chiaruttini, and VP of Engineering Mark S. Snyder. 2025 operating revenue was $77.5 million, with Q1 2026 revenue of $20.07 million and net income of $4.81 million, up $1.18 million year-over-year.
The York Water firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The York Water
- Legal name
- The York Water Company
- Website
- https://yorkwater.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1816
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The York Water Company is the oldest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the United States, founded in 1816. It supplies potable water and wastewater services to over 212,000 customers across 57–58 municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania under a regulated monopoly model with rates set by the PA PUC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The York Water industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water and Wastewater Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) (EUANADAA), Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG)
Keywords
Where The York Water is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The York Water business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Water Service Revenue: Recurring monthly charges to residential, commercial, and industrial customers for water supply, treatment, and distribution. Revenue is generated through meter readings and approved tariff rates set by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Volume-based charges plus fixed service charges constitute the primary revenue stream.
- Wastewater Service Revenue: Recurring charges for wastewater collection and treatment services provided to customers, typically billed together with or separately from water service based on customer requirements.
- Capital Investment Recovery (DSIC): Distribution System Improvement Charge allows recovery of capital investment costs between rate cases, providing incremental revenue for infrastructure modernization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Residential water and wastewater service rates determined by PA PUC tariff |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
The York Water product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The York Water Company provides regulated water and wastewater utility services to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in South-Central Pennsylvania. It treats and distributes over 24 million gallons of potable water daily through filter plants, pump stations, and distribution mains, and operates wastewater collection and treatment systems. The company also provides customer billing, meter reading, assistance programs, and service line protection as part of its integrated utility offering.
Product overview
The York Water Company is a water and wastewater utility providing essential public services across South-Central Pennsylvania. The company operates as a single, unified regulated utility offering water supply and distribution (delivering over 24 million gallons daily), wastewater collection and treatment services, and infrastructure management. The core product portfolio centers on water and wastewater services supplemented by customer programs including billing, assistance plans, and service line protection. The company operates under Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) regulation with rate increases approved to support its $145 million infrastructure investment plan through February 2027. Recent infrastructure projects include the completed Lake Williams Dam rehabilitation (awarded multiple industry awards in 2024) representing a 100+ year investment in community water supply.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water Supply and Distribution Regulated water supply service providing over 24 million gallons of treated potable water per day to over 212,000 people across 57-58 municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania. Service is delivered through company-owned filter plants, pump stations, and distribution mains under Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission tariff rates.
- Wastewater Services Regulated wastewater collection and treatment service for residential, commercial, and industrial customers, including recently acquired wastewater systems such as the Pine Run Retirement Community system serving 141 customers acquired in March 2026.
- Source Water Protection and Water Conservation Source water protection service including reservoir management for Lake Williams and Lake Redman, watershed protection, and water conservation programs. York Water holds EPA WaterSense Partner status reflecting its commitment to water efficiency standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24% revenue increase from approved rate case
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The York Water
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The York Water technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
The York Water partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The York Water competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- California Water Service Group: Investor-owned water utility (NYSE: CWT) serving ~2M people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Washington. Comparable regulated, geographically-concentrated water-only utility with similar capex-driven growth profile.
- Middlesex Water Company: NJ-based regulated water and wastewater utility (NASDAQ: MSEX) serving ~500K people. Very close comparable in scale, customer count, and small-cap investor-owned water utility profile.
- SJW Group: Diversified water utility holding company (NYSE: SJW) operating regulated water utilities in California, Texas, Connecticut, and Maine. Similar investor-owned water utility economics and DSIC-style rate mechanisms.
- Artesian Resources: Delaware-based regulated water and wastewater utility (NASDAQ: ARTNA) serving ~300K people on the Delmarva Peninsula. Small-cap Mid-Atlantic investor-owned water utility with comparable operating metrics.
- Global Water Resources: Arizona-based regulated water and wastewater utility (NASDAQ: GWRS) providing 'Total Water Management' to ~100K people. Comparable integrated water/wastewater utility with M&A-driven growth model.
- Essential Utilities: Regulated water and natural gas utility (NYSE: WTRG) serving ~5M people across 10 states; Pennsylvania is one of its core regulated jurisdictions. Closest direct peer in terms of size tier, regulated rate base model, and PA service-area overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Severn Trent: UK-listed regulated water and wastewater utility serving ~8M customers in England and Wales. Demonstrates the broader investor-owned regulated water utility business model that US small-caps like York Water operate within.
- American Water Works Company: Largest US publicly traded water and wastewater utility (NYSE: AWK), serving ~14M people across 14 states. Directly comparable business model and regulatory structure as York Water, but at vastly greater scale and geographic diversification.
Emerging players
- Consolidated Water Co. Desalinated water provider (NASDAQ: CWCO) serving the Caribbean. Smaller-scale water utility but with a different geographic and technology profile; relevant as a comparable small-cap investor-owned water company.
Regional players
- Avalon Holdings: Provides water and wastewater management services to industrial and municipal customers in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Comparable service mix but operates as a contract operator rather than a certificated rate-regulated utility.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The York Water social profiles
Digital presenceThe York Water compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The York Water financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The York Water leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The York Water subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The York Water funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The York Water M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The York Water
What does The York Water do?
The York Water Company provides regulated water and wastewater utility services to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in South-Central Pennsylvania. It treats and distributes over 24 million gallons of potable water daily through filter plants, pump stations, and distribution mains, and operates wastewater collection and treatment systems. The company also provides customer billing, meter reading, assistance programs, and service line protection as part of its integrated utility offering.
Is The York Water a public or private company?
The York Water is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was The York Water founded?
The York Water was founded in 1816. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The York Water based?
The York Water is headquartered in York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The York Water make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Water Service Revenue is the primary driver. The others are wastewater Service Revenue and capital Investment Recovery (DSIC).
Who are The York Water's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are California Water Service Group, Middlesex Water Company, SJW Group, Artesian Resources, Global Water Resources and Essential Utilities. Broad incumbents are Severn Trent and American Water Works Company. Consolidated Water Co. is listed as an emerging player. Avalon Holdings is listed as a regional player.
Does The York Water have an API?
No public API is recorded for The York Water.
What industry is The York Water in?
The York Water's product category is Water and Wastewater Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAAAB, Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations), with a secondary code of EUANADAA, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 4941.