VOORHEES, NJ, Mar. 22, 2011 -- One month before Earth Day, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is launching an online education toolkit designed to teach students the true value of water in their lives. Available free to teachers and parents at www.amwater125.com, the downloadable 12-part lesson plan is geared to students from grades 5 through 12. It is one component in a series of consumer education programs by American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, to help mark its 125th Anniversary.
The American Water Education Toolkit was created by science educator Ron Smith, who has more than 18 years of experience teaching biology, environmental science and interdisciplinary studies in the classroom, lab and field.
Appropriate for the classroom community events and at home, the toolkit's 12 lesson plans address issues covering everything from where water comes from to ways that it is treated and delivered, and what is required to keep it flowing. Lesson plan titles, grouped into four units, include "From Source to Tap," "Water on the Home Front: Conservation," "LEED by Example" and "Ancient Writings to Current Laws: Historical Events and the Establishment of Drinking Water Regulations," among others.
Dr. Mark LeChevallier, Director, Innovation and Environmental Stewardship for American Water, commented, "A great deal of work goes into providing the public with the high-quality water they need and expect. It is important that we foster awareness of the process -- from water treatment to delivery -- especially as the nation faces the realities of an aging water infrastructure that is inadequate to accommodate a growing population, as well as supply challenges caused by increased demand and climate change."
American Water's additional education initiatives during its 125th Anniversary year include the recently launched "Save Water Today" PSA campaign. Produced in conjunction with the Student Conservation Association and EPA's WaterSense program, the PSAs feature celebrities sharing easy tips on how consumers can do their part to use water wisely and start making a difference in a matter of hours or days. The PSAs are airing on approximately 90 stations in 24 markets nationwide and are also available at www.savewatertoday.org. In the first three weeks of the campaign, the Save Water Today PSAs aired approximately 2,700 times as part of the stations' public service airtime requirements.
About American Water
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded 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 15 million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada.
In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com
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