American Water’s Dr. Mark LeChevallier Receives Award for Innovative Water Quality Research

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, announced today that Dr. Mark LeChevallier, Director of Innovation & Environmental Stewardship, received the 2013 Research Innovation Award from the Water Research Foundation. This award honors researchers and research teams who have made significant contributions to advancing the science of water through Foundation-sponsored research. The award was received today at the Water Research Foundation’s annual Subscriber Breakfast.

In his 28-year career, LeChevallier has been involved in 50 Water Research Foundation projects and has made significant contributions in understanding the microbiology of water. In addition, his work has had a direct impact on improving water quality and, in turn, protecting public health for all Americans. He took the lead in the late 1980s in developing methods and monitoring for Giardia and Cryptosporidium in American’s water systems; he openly reported the data at a time when full disclosure of contaminant occurrence in water supplies was neither voluntary nor recommended.

Since 1985, Dr. LeChevallier has worked for American Water and currently directs the research and environmental compliance programs, including the development of environmental management plans for more than 1,000 operating centers, environmental audits to ensure compliance, development of a national cross connection control program, and implementation of environmental stewardship and greenhouse gas control programs. He also leads the company’s Innovation Development Process, which tests and develops new technologies and processes for use in the company and the water industry. The results of Dr. LeChevallier’s leadership and expertise are evidenced by American Water’s industry-leading compliance with EPA standards, achieving a score of greater than a 99.9 percent for drinking water, as well as by the innovations being brought to the industry by the company in the areas of water and wastewater treatment and water-energy efficiency.

Dr. LeChevallier’s contributions to the water industry include more than 20 awards and over 100 research papers authored or co-authored. He has also served as principal investigator or co-investigator on nearly 60 research grants totaling more than $31 million. Additionally, he has conducted nearly $1.5 million of research on the topic of water reuse and planning.

Despite the demands of his professional work, Dr. LeChevallier has always made it a point to serve his community. He is a mentor and guide for other scientists. He has actively engaged students at the elementary, high school, and college level, and has served on graduate student committees at numerous universities.

Dr. LeChevallier is also known around the industry for his talent for making complex scientific concepts more easily understandable to the general public. With this goal in mind, he began writing a blog on American Water’s website.

The Water Research Foundation is an international, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that sponsors research to enable water utilities, public health agencies and other professionals to provide safe and affordable drinking water to the public. With more than 950 subscriber members who provide water to 80 percent of the U.S. population, the Water Research Foundation has funded and managed more than 1,000 projects. For more information, go to www.WaterRF.org.

About American Water

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 14 million people in more than 30 states as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

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