WTRG Essential Utilities, Inc. - 8-K

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

A joint press release of Essential Utilities, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation
(“Essential Utilities” or the “Company”), and American Water Works Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“American
Water”), was issued on April 22, 2026 announcing that the Kentucky Public Service Commission approved the merger of the Company
and American Water.

A copy of this joint press release has been furnished
as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. References and links to websites and other information contained in this joint press release are not provided
as active hyperlinks, and the information contained in or accessed through these hyperlinks shall not be incorporated into, or form a
part of, this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information furnished in Item 7.01 of this Current
Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such
filing.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits to this Current Report have been provided herewith
as noted below:

Exhibit
No.

Description

99.1*

Joint Press Release, dated April 22, 2026, issued by Essential Utilities, Inc. and American Water Works Company, Inc.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are included
and formatted as Inline XBRL).

* Furnished herewith