BELLEVILLE — Illinois American Water is inviting third, fourth and fifth graders across the state to submit artwork for its annual "Water Keeps Life Flowing" contest, designed to deepen young people's understanding of the water systems that serve their communities.
The contest runs through Nov. 13 and accepts entries exploring what safe, clean and reliable water means to students. Up to 10 winners will receive prize packs valued at approximately $100 to share with their classrooms. Winning artwork may appear in future company communications and on Illinois American Water's social media channels.
"We are excited to see what safe, clean, and reliable water means to our young customers," Brian Eisenloeffel, president of Illinois American Water, said in a statement. He emphasized the company's commitment to helping students recognize the importance of water infrastructure to their everyday lives.
The contest timing aligns with Oct. 15, when the U.S. Water Alliance observes "Imagine a Day Without Water," an annual reminder of how catastrophic a single day without reliable water access would be for families, schools and communities.
Illinois American Water serves approximately 1.3 million people across the state through regulated water and wastewater operations. The company maintains roughly 600 employees and operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. It is a subsidiary of American Water, the nation's largest regulated water and wastewater utility, serving roughly 14 million people across 14 states and 19 military installations.
Contest rules and guidelines are available on Illinois American Water's website under the News & Community tab. Past winning artwork can be viewed on the company's Facebook page at @ilamwater.
For more information and to submit entries, visit Illinois American Water's official website. The deadline is Nov. 13.
