What is the AMERICAN WATER* charge on my bank statement?

The AMERICAN WATER* charge is a billing descriptor used by American Water, a major U.S. water utility, when processing payments for water and wastewater services. It typically represents a monthly utility bill payment, either from autopay enrollment or a manual online payment made through the American Water MyWater portal.

Why does the charge say AMERICAN WATER* instead of just American Water?

The asterisk in AMERICAN WATER* is a standard merchant descriptor formatting used by payment processors. American Water's billing system appends the asterisk and sometimes a state code or account reference to help distinguish the transaction type on your statement.

Can I get a refund for an AMERICAN WATER* charge?

Yes, refunds are possible if American Water billed you in error or if the charge was unauthorized. Contact American Water's billing department at 1-800-652-6987 to request a review. If the charge was fraudulent, your bank can initiate a chargeback for the AMERICAN WATER* transaction.

How do I cancel my American Water autopay to stop recurring charges?

Log into your MyWater account at americanwater.com, navigate to the Payment Options or Autopay section, and remove your saved payment method. You can also call American Water customer service at 1-800-652-6987 to have autopay disabled on your account directly.

How do I stop future AMERICAN WATER* charges if I no longer have service?

Contact American Water at 1-800-652-6987 to confirm your account is fully closed and your payment method has been removed. If charges continue after account closure, dispute them with your bank and consider requesting a new card number to block any further AMERICAN WATER* transactions.

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AMERICAN WATER* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "AMERICAN WATER*" charge is from American Water. American Water monthly water bill.

🌍 US🕐 8 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

American Water

American Water monthly water bill.

AMERICAN WATER*

Why this shows on your statement

American Water uses the truncated descriptor "AMERICAN WATER*" on bank statements because their billing system appends an asterisk to separate the company name from a secondary identifier, such as a regional account code or payment reference number, which may be cut off depending on your bank's character display limit. As one of the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility companies in the US, American Water processes payments through an automated billing platform that formats merchant descriptors this way across all of their state subsidiaries, including operations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and beyond. If you see "AMERICAN WATER*" on your statement for around $50, it is almost certainly your monthly water service bill and not a fraudulent charge.

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What should you do?

Confirm your American Water account

Log in to your American Water account at amwater.com to verify that the AMERICAN WATER* charge on your statement matches your current monthly water bill amount and billing cycle.

Review your usage details

While logged into amwater.com, check your recent water usage history and billing statements to ensure the charge reflects your actual water consumption and that no unexpected fees or rate changes have been applied.

Check your payment settings

Visit amwater.com to confirm whether you are enrolled in autopay, and make sure your payment method and billing preferences are up to date so future AMERICAN WATER* charges process smoothly without interruption to your water service.

Manage or cancel your account if needed

If you no longer need the service or believe the AMERICAN WATER* charge is incorrect, visit amwater.com/account to manage your account, update your service options, or contact American Water customer support directly to resolve any billing disputes.

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How to cancel American Water

American Water bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at American Water

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Should you be worried?

No, this is a legitimate charge from American Water. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, seeing "AMERICAN WATER*" on your statement is completely normal. Before assuming fraud, check your recent purchases — most mystery charges have a simple explanation.

Is the AMERICAN WATER* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

If you see AMERICAN WATER* on your bank or credit card statement, this charge is most likely a legitimate billing from American Water, one of the largest regulated water and wastewater utility companies in the United States. American Water serves millions of customers across multiple states, and their charges often appear as AMERICAN WATER* followed by a state abbreviation or account identifier. Before assuming fraud, consider these common reasons this charge appears:

You enrolled in autopay for your monthly water or wastewater utility bill through American Water
You made a one-time online payment via American Water's MyWater portal or their mobile app
A household member or property co-owner set up automatic billing linked to your payment method
You recently moved and set up new water service through your local American Water subsidiary

However, if you do not have active water service with American Water or have never signed up for their services, the charge could indicate unauthorized use of your payment information and should be investigated promptly.

How to Verify the AMERICAN WATER* Charge

1
Log into your American Water account
Visit americanwater.com and sign into your MyWater account to review recent billing activity. Your payment history will show if the AMERICAN WATER* charge matches a recent bill payment.
2
Search your email for American Water receipts
Search your inbox for emails from American Water or noreply@americanwater.com. Autopay confirmations and e-bill notifications from AMERICAN WATER* are typically emailed immediately after a transaction.
3
Check if a household member made the payment
Ask other residents or co-owners on the account whether they submitted a payment to American Water recently. Multiple people may have access to the same American Water account.
4
Verify your active American Water service address
Confirm that you have active water service at any address serviced by American Water. If you own rental properties, check whether autopay is linked to those accounts as well.
5
Call American Water customer service
Contact American Water directly at 1-800-652-6987 and provide the charge amount and date. Their billing team can look up any AMERICAN WATER* transaction tied to your account or payment method.

How to Dispute an AMERICAN WATER* Charge

1
Act within 60 days of the charge
Federal law gives you 60 days from the statement date to formally dispute an unauthorized AMERICAN WATER* charge with your bank or card issuer. Don't wait — gather your evidence early.
2
Contact American Water first
Call American Water at 1-800-652-6987 or use the contact form at americanwater.com to report the disputed charge. American Water may resolve billing errors directly without requiring a formal bank dispute.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If American Water cannot resolve the issue, contact your bank or credit card issuer and request a chargeback for the AMERICAN WATER* transaction. Provide the charge date, amount, and any communication records with American Water.
4
Request a new card number
If the AMERICAN WATER* charge appears fraudulent and you never had American Water service, ask your bank to issue a new card number to prevent any further unauthorized charges from appearing on your account.