Iowa American Water Presents 2016 Environmental Grant to Clinton High School Chemistry Department

Iowa American Water presented the first of four 2016 environmental grant awards to Clinton High School’s Chemistry Department earlier this week during a brief ceremony in teacher Spencer Mesick’s classroom. Earlier this year, Mr. Mesick applied for and was awarded a $500 grant to help support a watershed research and monitoring program that will be conducted by his students.

According to Mr. Mesick, students in his Clinton High School chemistry class have taken a keen interest in testing for chemicals in their drinking water in light of recent news reports about drinking water quality across the nation. The Clinton High School chemistry department lacked the supplies necessary to investigate what chemicals are in the water and at what amounts, so the environmental grant will help purchase testing supplies for the classroom.

“Our Environmental Grant Program is designed to help organizations, like Clinton High School’s chemistry department, carry out projects that benefit our waterways, raise awareness about the importance of water in our lives and promote community participation in the preservation and protection of our local watersheds,” said Mary Jane Midgett, director of operations at Iowa American Water. “We are pleased to support these worthwhile endeavors and extend our appreciation to the students in Mr. Mesick’s classroom for their concern and stewardship towards the environment and ultimately our drinking water sources.”

Since Iowa American Water began its environmental grant program ten years ago over $60,000 has been awarded to local projects that improve, restore or protect local watersheds.

Grant applications were evaluated by a panel of judges based on criteria such as environmental need, innovation, community engagement and sustainability.

Three additional recipients that will be awarded Iowa American Water’s 2016 Environmental Grant Awards in the near future are:

• City of Bettendorf will be awarded $4,000 for its Hopewell Storm Water Pond Water Quality Improvement Project.
• Nahant Marsh Education Center will be awarded $2,000 for its Sedge Meadow Restoration and Enhancement Project.
• Keep Scott County Beautiful will be awarded $1,700 for Xstream Cleanup 2016

About Iowa American Water

Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 200,000 people. American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. Marking its 130^th anniversary this year, the company employs 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 at www.amwater.com.

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