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Illinois American Water to Conduct Fire Hydrant and System Flushing

Work begins this week in Belleville and East St. Louis

Belleville, Ill. (April 12, 2021) – This week, Illinois American Water will begin fire hydrant and system flushing in the Belleville and East St. Louis service areas. The work starts today, April 12, 2021, and will continue for the next month. Timing of the work may change due to weather conditions.

This work is not related to the coronavirus. This maintenance work supports continued water quality and fire protection to homes and businesses.

Flushing the water system entails sending a rapid flow of water through the water mains. This helps remove any natural sediment which can build up in water pipes over time and supports water quality. Fire hydrants are also checked and operated to support fire protection in the community.

While the flushing program is underway, customers may experience a temporary drop in water pressure or draw some discolored water for a short period of time. If discolored water occurs, it is recommended that customer refrain from doing laundry and let their cold water run briefly; the water should clear up on its own. If customers have a question, they are encouraged to contact customer service at 800-422-2782.

Customers impacted by this work will be notified through Illinois American Water’s customer notification system. Information will also be shared via the company’s online alerts at 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 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. For more information, visit www.illinoisamwater.com and follow Illinois American Water on Twitter and Facebook.


Media Contacts

Karen Cotton

External Affairs Manager

NA

karen.cotton@amwater.com