At Illinois American Water, our team knows the critical role we play in our customers’ daily lives. We’re a key ingredient in your cup of coffee and we support firefighters with the water they need for public safety, while also providing reliable sanitary service for public health. We keep life flowing.

This is why we continuously invest in the local water and/or wastewater infrastructure. In 2018 and 2019, Illinois American Water invested over $250 million to install more than 70 miles of water and sewer mains. Water and wastewater treatment processes, equipment, security and technology were upgraded, and hundreds of fire hydrants and water meters were installed or replaced.

The need to invest in this critical infrastructure isn’t unique to Illinois American Water. Communities across the country face significant and complex system upgrades which can no longer be delayed without risk to public health and safety. Funding these investments can be a challenge, especially in smaller communities where the project costs will dramatically increase rates. In addition to funding, many communities find it difficult to attract industry experts from the ever-shrinking pool of Class A water operators.

At Illinois American Water, over 70 Class A water operators monitor operations around the clock. Thousands of water quality tests are conducted daily throughout the treatment process. Nationally, a team of PhDs are continuously researching and testing treatment methods for emerging contaminants. In the field, our skilled workforce maintains over 4,500 miles of water main located under streets, bridges and railways. This work, coupled with our proactive investment, ensures every drop of the 115 million gallons of water we deliver a day is safe.

It doesn’t matter where you live, every drop counts. This is why we are partnering with community leaders across the state to assume ownership and operation of their water and/or wastewater systems. Over the last two years, we’ve expanded services to an additional 35,000 customers. Some of the communities we now serve were facing EPA consent decrees or water quality issues. Some simply had other priorities and wanted to turn over operations to the experts, while others were facing pension or other fiscal challenges. Every community is unique, and we’re proud to partner with them.

We know that at the end of every water pipe, people depend on us to provide life’s most critical need and every treatment plant serves as a barrier against potential disease. Providing safe, reliable water and/or wastewater service to our friends and family, to the manufacturing facilities making the products we use, and to the water parks where our children play isn’t just our responsibility. It’s our calling. PM

Justin Ladner is president of Illinois American Water. For more information, visit amwater.com.