American Water Works Company, Inc. is an American public utility company operating in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1886 as the American Water Works & Guarantee Company. In 2003, American Water Works Company was created through the merger of RWE Thames Water and the water division of American Water Works & Guarantee Company. American Water provides drinking water, wastewater, and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 46 states and Ontario, Canada.