Today Missouri American Water announced its new Hydration Station Grant Program, which is designed to make safe and healthy hydration more accessible in public spaces while promoting environmental stewardship. Applications for this year’s grants will be accepted through May 13, 2022.

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Puddles demonstrates Missouri American Water's new hydration station. (Photo: Business Wire)

The program provides grants to select nonprofit organizations and public institutions such as schools, parks and community centers to help purchase water bottle refilling stations and drinking fountains for indoor and outdoor use.

“Some organizations and public institutions can’t afford modern drinking fountains and bottle-filling stations that allow users to access safe, clean tap water on the go,” said Missouri American Water President Rich Svindland. “We're excited to help keep life flowing in the communities we serve by donating convenient and environmentally sustainable hydration stations.”

Roughly 60 million plastic bottles are not recycled and end up in landfills every day in the United States, according to the Container Recycling Institute. The hydration stations will help to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles that end up in landfills and bodies of water.

"Every year our volunteers find thousands of single-use plastic bottles littering our region’s parks, rivers and streams. Water bottle refilling stations could really help reduce this environmental impact," said Bonnie Harper, Executive Director for the Open Space Council, a non-profit organization that organizes the Operation Clean Stream and Trash Bash events.

Special consideration will be given to applications from underserved communities.

"Lack of access to clean drinking water continues to be an ongoing environmental justice concern in Missouri," said Dr. Jessica Watson, Executive Director of the environmental nonprofit earthday365. "We at earthday365 are pleased to see this new grant that will hopefully expand access to water filling stations and simultaneously reduce plastic litter pollution in our watershed."

To be eligible, applicants must receive their tap water service from Missouri American Water. Religious organizations and individuals are not eligible. Grant recipients are responsible for ordering, installing, and maintaining the water bottle refilling units.

How To Apply: Visit our website at missouriamwater.com and click on the “News & Community” tab. Fill out the questionnaire by May 13, 2022 and provide the requested documentation. For questions, contact Megan Watson at Megan.Watson@amwater.com.

Missouri American Water

Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.5 million people. For more, visit missouriamwater.com and follow Missouri American Water on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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