Grade school contest boosts awareness of the role high-quality water systems play in students daily lives

Illinois American Water invites students to display their creativity by entering the company's Water Keeps Life Flowing art contest. Submissions from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will illustrate what high-quality water service means to them, and artwork will be accepted through Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.

Our yearly art contest motivates students to merge art and science to show the importance of water in a creative manner, says Brian Eisenloeffel, President, Illinois American Water. We are eager to see what safe, clean, and reliable water signifies to our young customers.

Art contest entries open Oct. 16, 2026, just one day after the annual observance of the U.S. Water Alliance's Imagine a Day Without Water on Oct. 15, which urges people to reflect on the severe effects of even one day without access to safe, clean water.

Eisenloeffel added, Water keeps our lives flowing by aiding families, schools, communities, and the environment to prosper. Water is vital for drinking, cooking, growing gardens, protecting public health, supporting local businesses, and assisting firefighters in keeping our communities secure. Illinois American Water fulfills a key role in customers daily lives by delivering water service that enables these essential activities and community functions.

Up to 10 winners will receive a prize pack, valued at roughly $100, to share with their classroom. Available prize packs include:

Creative Kids - art supplies like colored pencils, markers, crayons;
STEM Education - science trivia board game, magnetic tiles, Guess in 10 Animal Planet; and
Classroom Party - Uno Junior, 30 Fidget Toy Keychains, Would You Rather? School and Classroom Edition.

The winning artwork may appear in future Illinois American Water customer communications. Past winning artwork can be viewed on the company's Facebook page at ilamwater.

Additional contest rules and guidelines are available on Illinois American Water's website under the News and Community tab.

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