Our Stories

Our Commitment to Safe, Clean Water 
At American Water, we care deeply about providing access to safe, clean, and reliable water every single day. Our teams work hard to meet the highest water quality standards, always focused on protecting public health and the environment. By investing in the latest technology and keeping a close eye on our water systems, we help ensure that our customers get water they can trust.

The Central Laboratory: Safety Every Step of the Way

Our certified Central Laboratory, located in Belleville, Illinois, is a key part of our effort to deliver top-quality water. Each year, the lab runs more than 120,000 water sample analyses to check for things like PFAS, metals, and other harmful compounds. Most weeks, the lab handles 200–250 samples, but it can quickly ramp up when needed—like after weather events or during algal blooms.

• Integrated Testing: About 80% of our testing is done right in our lab, with the remainder being analyzed in our treatment plants or through outside experts for special tests. This flexible approach means we can handle any challenge.
• Wide Range of Methods: Our lab uses over 40 testing methods, including those approved by the EPA for new and emerging issues. This keeps us ready for anything that could impact water safety.
• Fast Results: Thanks to our skilled team of 20 lab staff (including 11 chemists) and 65 modern instruments, the lab can turn around most routine test results within 48–72 hours—and sometimes even faster if needed.
• Certified Excellence: The lab holds 19 state certifications, is approved to run 36 EPA and Standard Methods, and is certified to test for 243 different substances. We’re also part of the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) program, which tracks 30 changing analytes every five years.

Leading the Way in Research and Development
As a water industry leader, American Water is always seeking new and better ways to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water to our customers. Innovation is at the heart of our approach—driving change, improving performance, and making a positive impact for the communities we serve. With a strong team of eight highly trained scientists, they embrace fresh ideas and technologies that help us set the standard for excellence in water service and environmental stewardship.

We look for and invest in technologies that make a real difference, including:

• Ongoing innovation by conducting advanced analytical chemistry and microbiological testing outside of regulatory compliance. This research lab routinely analyzes complex samples for emerging contaminants, treatment performance, treatment plant pilot testing, and novel water quality indicators as part of our research and development projects.
• Water treatment and distribution – Bringing cutting-edge solutions to help ensure safe and clean water reaches every customer.
• Wastewater treatment and collection – Enhancing how we process and manage water after use, protecting public health and ecosystems.
• Biosolids management – Turning byproducts into resources through sustainable practices and still protecting our environment.

For additional information and to read your local water quality report, please visit our Water Quality Reports page.

Water Quality One Pagers

Lead
PFAS
Copper
Legionella
Cyanotoxins
Water Quality

Additional Resources

Water Treatment Process
Wastewater Treatment Process
The Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Brochure