American Water Funds 2008 Environmental Grant Programs

VOORHEES, N.J., (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK), the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced today recipients of the company's 2008 Environmental Grant Program awards. A total of 18 projects will be supported by grants totaling more than $100,000.

The recipients, which are located throughout American Water's service area, include:

California

Sacramento Rover Watershed Program was awarded $5,000 to improve and help local citizens and officials understand water quality issues in the Sacramento Watershed. The funds will underwrite a workshop focused on water quality issues and the development of a sustainable regional water quality monitoring program.

Community Clean Water Institute received $5,000 to be used to perform water quality and instream flow monitoring at five locations in the Mark West Creek Watershed in the Larkfield and Wikiup areas of Sonoma County.

Illinois

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and the Illinois River watersheds public awareness program will use it's $3,000 award to increase public knowledge of the importance of watershed preservation and restoration of the Illinois River through a public education campaign and an educational website.

Indiana

Kosciusko County Coil and Water Conservation District was awarded $3,000 and plans to develop an awareness and appreciation within high school students of water resources in the county through hands-on field experience.

Muncie Sanitary District and the Muncie White River cleanup project received $6,500 to create a program for river cleanups that can be sustained indefinitely to benefit the health of the White River and the surrounding community.

Iowa

River Action and the Quad City watershed plan received a grant for $5,000 to improve water quality, physical and aesthetic characteristics around the watershed, as well as provide education and resources to implement improvements identified.

Kentucky

CDP Engineers, Inc was awarded a grant of $10,000 to build two rain gardens within an existing urbanized impaired watershed.

Bluegrass Pride received $10,000 to begin the American Water Ambassador Program, encouraging participants to complete hands-on learning activities and a final community service project.

Missouri

Trailnet, Inc. and The Confluence project was awarded $8,500. The project, which focuses on corridor habitat restoration, maintenance and management, will use the funds to help protect and restore watersheds in the St. Louis region along The Confluence corridor.

Ohio

WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. and the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition will use it's $6,100 to educate residents of the Sandusky River Watershed about proper methods of disposal for out-dated, unused, over-the-counter or prescription medications. Also, a medication take back program will be developed.

Pennsylvania

Moshannon Creek Watershed Coalition received $7,500 to prepare an abatement study to quantify and document the environmental pollution from the MC FORE acid mine discharge, which has been caused by extensive coal and clay mining from years past. This study will help the organization obtain state and federal funding to permit and construct the treatment solution for the acid mine discharge.

River Alert and Information Network will use it's $7,500 for an education program, aimed at young people, about the importance of watershed protection. The initiative includes the production of video, displays and other communications media that promote source water protection to encourage school-age children to take greater interest in where their families get drinking water. In addition, boat excursions for teachers and students are planned along the Monongahela River to learn about source water protection.

Wyoming Borough and Abrahams Creel Watershed Association received $6,700 to overcome poor watershed management practices that have existed for years by changing attitudes and actions through educational initiatives including workshops and demonstrations for residents and local officials on a range of topics. In addition the grant will enable ACWA to undertake streamside buffer restoration by removing invasive plants and allow native vegetation to return.

Lawrence County Board of Commissioners was awarded $2,200 to provide tools and supplies needed for the clean-up, as well as for the disposal of debris and tires collected of two watershed sites which are instrumental to the establish a water trail along the Beaver River in the Beaver Watershed.

Brandywine Valley Association received $1,200 to help develop a restoration plan for Little Buck Run to correct impairments to the watershed, plus ongoing water quality monitoring will be conducted to document changing patterns. All data collected will be used to promote awareness among residents, township officials, developers and policy makers about the actions and tools needed to improve the watershed. In addition, the group will develop a model to be used in other watersheds where impaired streams exist.

South Park Township was awarded a grant of $650 to expand its stream clean-up program that began four years ago. The grant will provide the tools needed for this year's clean-up and provide for the disposal of the trash and tires collected along Piney Fork Creek and Peters Creek.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Aquarium was awarded $15,000 to support the new River Gorge Explorer, which will allow passengers to experience an unspoiled stretch of the Tennessee River. This program will provide 1,400 education programs to more than 60,000 people.

West Virginia

Mid-State Clean Streams, Inc. will use its $10,000 to cleanup the Elk River, which serves as source water for West Virginia American Water's Weston, Gassaway and Kanawha Valley plants. The money will provide boats and other tools the group needs to pull trash and debris out the river and off the banks.

American Water launched its first Environmental Grant Program in January of 2005, with a pilot project in Pennsylvania resulting in three grant awards. Due to its overwhelming success, American Water expanded the program to 20 states where the company owns water and wastewater utilities. Applicants were asked to address a source water protection need in the local community or a project that improves, restores or protects one or more watersheds.

About American Water

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs nearly 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15.6 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada.

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