Illinois American Water Hosts Illinois General Assembly Members at Streator Water Treatment Plant to Highlight Infrastructure Investments

STREATOR, Ill., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Illinois American Water welcomed a group of the Illinois legislators to its water treatment plant in Streator, highlighting the company's industry-leading approach to water treatment and infrastructure solutions. Participating in the tour were Senator Chris Balkema, Representative Jason R. Bunting, Tim Ruestman, candidate for IL-District 105, and a delegate from the office of Representative Dennis Tipsword.

Legislators from the Streator area toured the treatment plant to learn about how Illinois American Water's ongoing investments support the delivery of safe, clean, reliable drinking water while modernizing treatment processes and protecting local water resources. 

Following the tour, Illinois State Senator Chris Balkema stated, "Visiting the American Water plant in Streator gave me confidence in the critical investments being made to meet drinking water regulations across our communities and to keep quality water flowing to our taps."

"Supporting the utilities that provide the services and amenities that keep our communities going is important, especially as systems age," added Illinois Representative Jason R. Bunting. "I want to thank Illinois American Water for the opportunity to tour the Streator plant and to learn about the ways they're innovating in our community."

Recent water treatment plant upgrades that enhance the company's water quality and further protect area customers include:

• Ultraviolet Treatment System ($4.1 million): The company added additional disinfection capabilities to the water treatment process. The equipment uses ultraviolet light to treat bacteria and microorganisms that could be present in raw water from the Vermilion River, which serves as source water for the treatment plant.
• Water Plant Filter Improvement ($3.7 million): Construction completed in 2024 improved two aging water filters and created a new structure over the water plant's sedimentation and flocculation basins for additional protection from the elements.

"Illinois American Water has invested $26.5 million over the past 5 years into the Streator Water Treatment Plant and distribution system," said John Killips, Sr. Director of Engineering, Illinois American Water. "These investments are crucial for us to maintain our ability to provide clean, safe and reliable water service for the roughly 7,600 customers the plant serves."

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 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 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. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

About Illinois American Water 

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state with approximately 600 dedicated employees working to provide safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.

SOURCE American Water