West Virginia American Water Awards $10,000 in Environmental Grants to Projects in Braxton, Cabell, Fayette and Kanawha Counties

Business Wire 7-May-2019 10:00 AM

Six organizations receive funding to help protect water resources in West Virginia through annual grant program as part of Drinking Water Week

West Virginia American Water announced today that six recipients received funding through the company's 2019 Environmental Grant Program. The announcement coincides with Drinking Water Week – a celebration by the American Water Works Association and the water community across North America that recognizes the vital role drinking water plays in daily lives. This year's Drinking Water Week theme is "Protect the Source" and focuses on ways water consumers can take personal responsibility in caring for their tap water and protecting it at its source.

West Virginia American Water's annual Environmental Grant Program supports innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies through partnerships within the company's service territory. In April, a committee of West Virginia American Water representatives reviewed and judged a host of competitive applications from deserving programs and initiatives across the state. Six organizations were chosen to receive $10,054 in total funding for their water education and protection efforts:

• Campbell's Creek Women's Club ($600) to support the Family Fishing & Watershed Improvement Day
• Elk Conservation District ($1,500) for the Trees for Kids program
• Ernie Nester Chapter of Trout Unlimited ($872) to support water quality monitoring in trout environments
• Fourpole Creek Watershed Association ($2,452) for Huntington's yard and stream program
• Martha Elementary School ($2,200) to support an expanded classroom living stream
• Morris Creek Watershed Association ($2,430) for stream health and water testing equipment

"While we celebrate Drinking Water Week, it's a great opportunity for us to recognize and support the organizations that work to safeguard our environment and source waters," said Robert Burton, president of West Virginia American Water. "We applaud this year's grant recipients for their work on clean water education and environmental stewardship. This group is a small representation of the many organizations doing great work in and around our communities each day to help us protect the source."

To learn more about West Virginia American Water's source water protection program, visit westvirginiaamwater.com > Water Quality > Source Water Protection. West Virginia American Water's grant programs and other charitable contributions are paid for by the company's shareholders, not its customers.

About Drinking Water Week

For more than 40 years, AWWA and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week, a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in daily lives. Additional information about Drinking Water Week, including free materials for download and celebration ideas, is available on the Drinking Water Week webpage.

About West Virginia American Water

West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 530,000 people. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to over 14 million people in 45 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. More information can be found at www.westvirginiaamwater.com.

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