American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, dedicated to providing safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to 14 million people in 24 states. The company is committed to protecting the environment and ensuring high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people through its subsidiary, Illinois American Water.
The Environmental Grant Program, established by American Water in 2005, aims to support innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore, or protect watersheds, surface water, and groundwater supplies in local communities within American Water service areas. The program focuses on projects that address a watershed or source water protection need, including watershed cleanup, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects, wellhead protection initiatives, hazardous waste collection efforts, and education on surface or groundwater protection. The selection criteria include the clarity of project goals, innovation and strength of project design, collaboration with community/municipal organizations, likelihood of project sustainability, community engagement, impact assessment, and cost efficiency.