Short-Term Debt - Additional Information (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Extension
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 21, 2018
USD ($)
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Short-term debt $ 786,000,000 $ 964,000,000  
Maturity in More Than Three Months      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Proceeds from short-term borrowings with maturities greater than three months 0    
Letter of Credit      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Available credit facility capacity 2,170,000,000    
Commercial Paper Program      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Short-term debt 786,000,000 964,000,000  
Revolving Credit Facility      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Maximum borrowing capacity 2,250,000,000 2,262,000,000  
Letters of credit, outstanding amount 76,000,000    
Revolving Credit Facility | Letter of Credit      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Maximum borrowing capacity $ 150,000,000 $ 150,000,000  
American Water Capital Corp.      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Interest rate during period 2.54% 2.28%  
Maximum borrowing capacity     $ 500,000,000
Number of extensions allowed | Extension 2    
Extension period duration 1 year    
American Water Capital Corp. | Revolving Credit Facility      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Proceeds from lines of credit $ 0    
American Water Capital Corp. | Revolving Credit Facility | Letter of Credit      
Short-term Debt [Line Items]      
Maximum borrowing capacity     $ 150,000,000