Back to School: Top Five Reasons to Tap the Tap

American Water Encourages Use of Tap Water to Help Environment, Save Money

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As students across the country return to classrooms and athletic fields, American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company, is asking parents to provide them with reusable bottles filled with tap water.

“Even today, there are relatively few countries where inexpensive, high quality, safe drinking water is widely available from the faucet 24 hours a day, seven days a week…”

“Tap water is a reliable, inexpensive, eco-friendly beverage for everyone’s hydration needs, and as long as you have a reusable container, it can be taken with you and refilled just about anywhere,” said Dr. Mark LeChevallier, director of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship for American Water. “We’re very fortunate in this country to have access to high-quality tap water in our homes and schools, and at the cost of about a penny per gallon in most communities, it’s a real value, especially when compared to purchasing other beverages.”

The company offers consumers the following Top Five Reasons to Tap the Tap:

1.	Tap water is inexpensive. Tap water is typically available from the faucet for less than a penny a gallon as a national average.
2.	Tap water is regulated for safety. Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must meet stringent quality requirements. Water treatment plants that provide tap water must be tested multiple times per day, and every water provider in the country is required to provide consumers with detailed water quality reports to assure its compliance with EPA standards.
3.	Water is the best choice for hydration. It is recommended that you consume at least eight to 10 glasses of water each day, but the ideal amount varies with the individual and conditions such as activity. Medical experts agree that in hot and humid weather, you need to consume extra quantities of water because of the loss of water through sweat.
4.	Most plastic disposable bottles are never recycled. According to the Container Recycling Institute, 85% of plastic water bottles end up in the trash even though they are made of recyclable materials. Americans throw away an average of 38 billion water bottles a year, which won’t biodegrade for 1,000 years.
5.	Use of refillable bottles, stainless steel or plastic, will be a valuable “lesson” for kids and set them on a path towards responsible environmental practices. You’ll be putting more than a reusable bottle in their backpack – you’ll be inspiring the next generation of environmentally conscious consumers.

Americans can take pride in the quality of their tap water. As author Peter H. Gleick wrote in his recently published book Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water, “Even today, there are relatively few countries where inexpensive, high quality, safe drinking water is widely available from the faucet 24 hours a day, seven days a week…”.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7, 000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 16 million people in 35 states and Ontario and Manitoba, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.