Missouri American Water initiates 2013 grant programme for water bodies

Missouri American Water, a wholly-owned subsidiary of public water and wastewater utility American Water Works Company, has announced that it has now started accepting applications for its 2013 environmental grant programme.

American Water established the environmental grant programme in 2005, to provide funds to unique, community-based environmental projects that can restore, protect, and improve water bodies, such as water sheds, surface water and groundwater supplies.

In 2012, the company awarded grants totalling over $22,000 to six projects across its service area.

Missouri American Water president Frank Kartmann said the company is committed to ensuring water quality by conducting tests, treating water, community source protection programmes and through educating consumers.

"We all have a responsibility to be environmental stewards in terms of protecting our water supplies and in encouraging future generations to do the same," Kartmann added.

To qualify for the grant programme, projects must address a source water or watershed protection need in the community and comple the project work between 1 May 2013 and 29 November 2013.

The projects should either execute a new or innovative programme for the community or expand the existing programme to serve the community better.

Formal or informal partnerships between two or more organisations for the execution of the projects is also one of the main criteria for the grant programme.

The participating companies will also have to provide evidence of sustainability and convince their existence even after the grant money is utilised.

Applications for the grant should completed by 11 March 2013, and recipients will be notified by 12 April 2013.

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Image: American Water starts accepting applications for its 2013 environmental grant programme for water bodies. Photo: Courtesy of Walter Siegmund.