Illinois American Water’s Cairo District Earns National Safety Award for a Second Time

CAIRO, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Illinois American Water’s Cairo District received the American Water
Works Association (AWWA) Wendell R. LaDue Utility Safety Award for
excellence in safety. The award recognizes distinguished safety programs
by water utilities and requires excellent safety records for five
consecutive years, as well as a consistent safety program focused on
continuous improvement. The Cairo District has been safety incident-free
for 17 years.


The award was presented to Mike Brown, operations superintendent for the
Cairo District, during the 2017 American Water Works Association Annual
Conference in Philadelphia, Pa. Founded in 1881, AWWA is considered the
authoritative resource on safe water.

Illinois American Water employees work around the clock to provide an
essential service critical for daily life, public health and fire
protection. The work performed can include daily hazards like working in
confined spaces, among motorists and in extreme weather. Employees also
handle chemicals, conduct excavation, operate equipment and complete
heavy lifting.

Brown said, “Safety is on our minds every minute of every day. There is
nothing more important than ensuring our employees go home in the same
condition they arrived at work, if not better. We owe that to our
coworkers and their families. There is no room for shortcuts when it
comes to safety.”

Illinois American Water conducts both classroom and hands-on training on
a regular basis. Employees also participate in facility and job site
audits to ensure compliance with established workplace safety practices.
This is the second time the local water team has earned this prestigious
award. AWWA also recognized Illinois American Water’s Cairo District
with the Wendell R. LaDue Utility Safety Award in 2011.

Brown said, “Receiving this recognition not once, but twice in the last
six years means a lot to our team. Safety is a daily focus. We
continuously evaluate and act to remove hazards to prevent injuries.”

The Cairo District’s five employees serve approximately 3,600 customers
in Cairo, North Cairo, Future City and Patierdale.

About Illinois American Water

Illinois 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 and/or wastewater services to
approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a
customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research
laboratory in Belleville. 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 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated
and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services
to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More
information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

Contacts

Illinois American Water
Karen Cotton, 309-566-4126
[email protected]