CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 2023, Illinois American Water invested $297 million in water and wastewater system infrastructure replacement and enhancements throughout the state. This work included installing new pipes, pumps, hydrants, valves, lift stations, water treatment facilities, storage tanks, new water quality systems and technology.
Locally, in the company’s Northern Division, the capital investment in infrastructure reached $32 million in 2023. The Northern Division is comprised of the Chicago Metro water and wastewater systems, South Beloit water system and Santa Fe wastewater system.
“For more than a decade, Illinois American Water has invested $1.6 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure throughout Illinois. These improvements include repairs to existing infrastructure and replacements when needed,” said Rebecca Losli, president, Illinois American Water. “We work with state and federal regulators from the Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Commerce Commission to meet all requirements and policies, not only for today, but in anticipation of what may be ahead of our communities and customers tomorrow. After careful analysis of where improvements are needed, we strategically and efficiently direct capital improvements to those areas most in need.”
Examples of a few major 2023 capital projects in the Northern Division (not a full list of local capital projects):
- Main and manhole rehabilitation, Wastewater – Country Club ($7.5 million) – Our team rehabilitated approximately 68 sanitary manholes; 4,000 feet of sewer pipe; and 275 public laterals. In addition, 389 service connections were repaired in the Country Club District sanitary area.
- Water main replacement, Water – DuPage Inverness ($2.1 million) - This project, located in Chicago Metro consists of the replacement of 3,300 linear feet of 6-inch main with 8-inch ductile iron pipe. The main will be relocated from the rear yard of the house to the front yard with plans to retire the rear yard main in the future.
- Water main replacement, Bolingbrook/Chicago Metro Water – West Suburban ($5.9 million) – The Queenswood Road Rear Yard Water Main Replacement project, located in Bolingbrook, consists of the replacement of 9,595 linear feet of 6-inch and 8-inch main with 8-inch ductile iron pipe. The main was relocated from the rear yard of the house to the front yard in 2022, and the rear yard main was retired in 2023.
- Sewer rehabilitation, Bolingbrook/Chicago Metro Water – West Suburban ($716,000) - This project consists of the structural rehabilitation of 4,704 linear feet of existing 8-inch sanitary sewer main with cured-in-place pipe liner. This rehabilitation extends the life of the existing pipe and reduces the need to replace the existing sewers.
“Our systems and facilities continue to be resilient, reliable, and dependable for our customers here in the Northern Division and across our state,” said Kevin Hillen, senior manager of operations, Northern Division. “We take a strategic, proactive approach, with customer service and reliability driving our investments.”
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $34 to $38 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.
American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formally Twitter) and Instagram.
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.
ILLINOIS AMERICAN WATER WAS RANKED HIGHEST IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WITH LARGE WATER UTILITIES IN THE MIDWEST FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!℠
For J.D. Power 2023 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.
