#United States #AWWA #Davenport #Iowa American Water #Drinking Water Week

Iowa American Water Celebrates Drinking Water Week 2026

Iowa American Water is highlighting the significance of Drinking Water Week from May 3 to 9, 2026. This annual event aims to remind the community about the essential role that high-quality drinking water plays in public health and economic development. As a proud participant, Iowa American Water underscores its dedication to providing safe, reliable water services to its customers and communities.

Drinking Water Week, an initiative spearheaded by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), encourages water utilities across North America to come together and emphasize the vital contributions of clean drinking water to everyday life. To Brad Nielsen, President of Iowa American Water, the focus remains on ensuring that water supplied is not only safe but also consistently reliable. He reflects, "Providing safe, reliable water is at the core of what we do." The company’s commitment extends beyond just daily operation; it involves a significant investment in future infrastructure that will support community needs.

Continuing improvements characterize Iowa American Water’s approach. In the previous year of 2025, the company invested over $55 million in water and wastewater infrastructure, aiming to enhance the service quality for approximately 225,000 customers in Iowa. With a series of strategic investments, the company's goal is to fortify its operational systems, ensuring long-term resilience and reliability.

Key Investments in 2025

The focus areas for investment include:

• - Water Main Enhancements: $12 million was dedicated to replacing, repairing, and installing new water mains across service territories. This proactive measure is crucial for maintaining service integrity and reliability.
• - Elevated Tank Construction: Iowa American Water commenced a $3.5 million project to build a two-million-gallon elevated tank in Davenport, designed to expand storage capacity in the Quad Cities District. Completion is projected for 2027 with a total cost of $10.8 million.
• - Service Line Replacements: A significant investment of $8 million targeted the replacement of lead and galvanized service lines. The company successfully replaced 928 service lines in 2025 alone, making substantial progress towards compliance with a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate that all lead service lines must be replaced by 2037.
• - Water Treatment Improvements: An investment of $4.8 million concluded renovations at the Blue Grass wastewater treatment plant, part of a larger project costing $9.9 million. There were also essential upgrades at water treatment plants in Clinton and Davenport, which received a combined maintenance and equipment replacement investment of $4.8 million.
• - New Well Installation: Iowa American Water invested $3.7 million at MercyOne Genesis East Campus in Davenport, constructing a new well to serve both the hospital and the surrounding community.

Community Engagement and Education

In addition to infrastructure improvements, Iowa American Water actively promotes community stewardship by encouraging residents to learn about their local water systems and protect vital water resources. The importance of recognizing water's role in fostering healthy communities is essential, especially during Drinking Water Week. Nielsen states, "By modernizing aging infrastructure and proactively reinvesting in our systems, we are reinforcing reliability, enhancing fire protection through consistently strong water flows, and ensuring we continue to deliver the high‑quality services our customers expect and deserve."

For residents interested in their water quality, Iowa American Water offers an online tool for checking water quality by zip code. More resources regarding Drinking Water Week and public participation can be found on the AWWA website.

Conclusion

Iowa American Water’s commitment to safe and reliable water during Drinking Water Week exemplifies its ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and community health. By investing significantly in system upgrades and engaging with their customer base, Iowa American Water demonstrates a robust path forward to secure the future of water services in Iowa.