Indiana American Water celebrates Source Water Protection Week, raising awareness to protect water resources

Indiana American Water is celebrating Source Water Protection Week (Sept. 29 to Oct. 5) by creating awareness that safe, clean, and reliable water is supported by protecting water resources free from pollution, and by giving the public helpful resources and information, to encourage everyone to contribute.

“Protecting water resources like lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and well fields are crucial for helping ensure clean, safe and reliable drinking water,” Indiana American Water President Matt Prine said. “These natural sources can be vulnerable to pollution and overuse, which can lead to water shortages and health hazards. All Hoosiers can help by reducing their use of harmful chemicals, properly disposing of waste and supporting conservation efforts. By taking these impactful actions, we can preserve our water resources for future generations.”

During Source Water Protection Week and all year long, Indiana American Water educates employees and customers across the state about the steps we take to provide safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers. These tips can be found on Indiana American Water’s “Watershed Protection” page at indianaamwater.com.

Many of these actions should be considered for year-round practices:

• Plant landscaping around homes or businesses with more permeable surfaces, such as mulch, that allow water to soak into the ground. Try to limit concrete and asphalt, which contributes to runoff.
• Use native plants that require minimal fertilizer, herbicides, and watering.
• Do not over-apply chemicals to plants and avoid application immediately before it rains.
• Plant a rain garden that uses native plants and grass to capture and absorb rainwater from rooftops and roads. These planned gardens help simplify lawn maintenance, control erosion and reduce runoff into streams and storm water systems.
• Keep litter, pet waste and yard waste out of streets and storm drains. Pet waste contains bacteria that can find its way into waterways through runoff.
• Select non-toxic or less toxic alternatives to typical household products, such as cleaning agents.
• Dispose of pharmaceuticals by taking them to collection sites, where available. Don’t flush them down in the toilet.
• Use hazardous waste collection sites and services to dispose of items such as chemicals, paints, motor oil, and batteries.
• Report any hazardous material spills, illegal dumping, or suspicious activity to local or state authorities.

American Water and Indiana American Water are committed to providing high-quality drinking water while also prioritizing source water protection, which includes:

• Conducting nearly 1 million tests and measurements each year at American Water’s state-of-the-art research laboratories.
• Application of the most advanced technology, equipment, and filtration processes.
• Constant collaborative work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other state and local agencies to meet or surpass water quality standards and address emerging contaminants so that potential impacts to water quality are minimized.