STREATOR – Illinois American Water’s Pontiac and Streator Water Treatment Plants and their water quality teams earned national recognition from the American Water Works Association’s partnership for Safe Water program. Both districts were awarded the Directors Award for maintaining a Phase III
certification for 20 years. This award is based on a peer-reviewed self-assessment of plant operations and water quality data. According to the AWWA, the Directors Award establishes utilities as “high performing providers of safe drinking water.”
Rachel Bretz, Director of Water Quality and Compliance explained Illinois American Water is one of only nine Illinois-based water utilities participating in the volunteer program which focuses on optimizing water treatment. The program requires participating systems to meet drinking water guidelines which are more stringent than required by the Environmental Protection Agency.