American Water Works : Illinois American Water provides water assistance to more than 925 Illinoisans through H2O Help to Others

Jan. 20, 2017 Dawnesha Johnson

618-239-3252

dawnesha.johnson@amwater.com

Approximately $94,000 contributed to Illinois American Water residential customers in 2016 for water bill payments

Illinois (Jan. 20, 2017) - In an ongoing partnership between the state's Salvation Army agencies and Illinois American Water, more than 925 Illinois American Water residential customers received financial assistance in 2016 to help with payment of their water bills. The support came through the company's customer assistance program, H2O Help to Others, an emergency assistance program to help provide supplemental funding to Illinois American Water residential customers who met the Salvation Army's criteria. The program, which originated in 1996, is supported by contributions from Illinois American Water and voluntary contributions from customers and administered by Salvation Army.

"Through this program, we work with Salvation Army to provide much-needed water assistance to our customers who rely on us every day," said Bruce Hauk, president of Illinois American Water, the state's largest investor-owned water utility. "Over the past five years, we have provided about $434,000 in assistance grants to 3,986 households. We thank our customers who voluntarily give to this program every month through their water bill payments."

Information regarding the program and how to donate to it is included in Illinois American Water customers' bills. In addition to the message in customers' bills, the company's customer assistance program is being seen in multiple venues, social media channels and community events throughout the state. The company also launched a digital customer education program to raise awareness about the customer program, wise water use tips, and more.

To learn more about this customer assistance program or about payment plan options, visit www.illinoisamwater.com.

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 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. Illinois American Water ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Water Utilities in the Midwest" according to J.D. Power's 2016 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM. American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. 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 by visiting www.amwater.com.

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