#United States #Illinois American Water #Belleville #Source Water Protection #Clean Drinking Water

Illinois American Water's Commitment to Source Water Protection

In honor of the Annual Source Water Protection Week, which takes place from September 27 to October 3, Illinois American Water has reiterated its dedication to delivering safe, clean, and reliable water services, emphasizing that the journey for high-quality drinking water begins long before it reaches treatment facilities. Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water, highlighted this point by stating, "High-quality drinking water does not originate in a treatment plant. It begins miles upstream, integrating through the landscapes and water sources that are vital for Illinois communities."

A Comprehensive Approach to Water Safety

The American Water's Source Water Protection Program has been established to create a robust framework aimed at assessing risks, engaging stakeholders, and implementing proactive strategies to safeguard drinking water supplies. The initiative aims to maintain the purity of the rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which not only lessens potential risks threatening the water supply but also helps keep treatment costs lower.

Illinois American Water manages around 275 water samples per day at its Central Laboratory located in Belleville, Illinois. The organization employs state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and thorough filtration processes while continuously updating its cyanotoxin management plans. Furthermore, the company collaborates diligently with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Illinois EPA, and various local agencies to ensure that they not only meet but exceed water quality standards while tackling emerging contaminants that could threaten water quality.

In addition to these measures, Illinois American Water participates in emergency planning and spill response collaborations, such as the Upper Mississippi River Spills Group, actively communicating with local emergency planning committees across the St. Clair, Madison, and Peoria communities to respond efficiently should incidents arise.

Ensuring Quality Water Resources

Utilizing key water sources like the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, the Vermillion River headwaters, and groundwater resources like the Mahomet Aquifer, Illinois American Water's Senior Source Water Protection Program Manager, Ted Kratschmer, plays a crucial role in ensuring water quality and resource availability for the communities served. "Source water protection at Illinois American Water is not just a plan on paper. We engage proactively with regional efforts to protect and improve our drinking water sources and actively raise awareness about how everyone plays a role in safeguarding our water," Kratschmer stated.

To help individuals contribute to this mission, Kratschmer encourages the public to adopt the following sustainable actions:

• - Use more permeable surfaces, like mulch, in landscaping to facilitate groundwater absorption.
• - Avoid overuse of chemicals on plants and refrain from applying these products just before rainfall.
• - Keep litter, pet waste, and yard debris out of streets and storm drains to prevent bacteria runoff into water systems.
• - Opt for non-toxic or less toxic alternatives when selecting household products like cleaning supplies.
• - Safely dispose of pharmaceuticals by utilizing collection sites; never flush them down the toilet.
• - Utilize hazardous waste collection services to discard items like chemicals and batteries safely, and report hazardous material spills or illegal dumping to appropriate authorities.

For more insights on how water is treated and reaches your tap, more details can be found here.

About American Water

American Water, trading on the NYSE as AWK, stands as the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, with a longstanding history rooted in public service since 1886. This year, American Water proudly celebrates its 140th anniversary, continuing its mission of providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water services to approximately 14 million people across 14 states and 19 military installations.

With a workforce of about 7,000 professionals, American Water combines extensive industry knowledge and national operational capacity to achieve exceptional outcomes for customers and stakeholders alike. For further information, visit amwater.com and connect with American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

About Illinois American Water

As a subsidiary of American Water, Illinois American Water holds the position of being the largest regulated water utility within the state, employing approximately 600 dedicated individuals committed to ensuring the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable water and wastewater services to about 1.3 million residents. The company also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville, which plays a significant role in upholding water standards.