Each year, the American Water Works Association marks the first full week of May as Drinking Water Week. Taking place this year from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday the 10th, the special week is designed to raise public awareness of the important work done by water professionals to maintain water systems and create water safe for human consumption.
In recognition of this occasion, Springfield’s public utility City Water Light and Power has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to clean drinking water:
City Water, Light and Power is joining communities throughout North America in recognizing Drinking Water Week May 4-10, 2025. This annual observance led by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) serves to highlight the importance of healthy drinking water flowing around the clock to citizens. This year, CWLP is highlighting the importance of investment in the infrastructure needed to deliver it, as well as efforts to protect its source, Lake Springfield.
In commemoration of Drinking Water Week, CWLP customers will be able to participate in drawings to win CWLP water-related gifts on social media throughout the month of May. In addition, information about CWLP Water Department projects, as well as aspects about Lake Springfield watershed protection and history, will be shared on CWLP’s website and Social Media pages, www.facebook.com/4cwlp; www.twitter.com/cwlp_) and Instagram @cwlp__.
“During Water Week we will look forward to highlighting CWLP’s daily efforts to bring such a vital resource to our community,” said CWLP Chief Utility Engineer Doug Brown. “From our watershed protection efforts for Lake Springfield, to our infrastructure investments in our water mains and water distribution system, getting high quality drinking water to the tap reliably and affordably is a great benefit to the community.”
Ground soil naturally contains a number of toxic substances which can harm human health. Throughout Illinois, the soil composition – and, consequently, the groundwater – can exceed maximum safe levels for lead, cadmium, and especially arsenic. In the Springfield area, historic industrial waste products are believed to have contributed to excessively high levels of arsenic and boron in water testing wells.
Despite this, per CWLP’s newly released 2024 Water Quality Report, finished drinking water produced by the utility met all federal and state drinking water health standards. The report found all contaminant levels in treated water to be well below safe levels, with arsenic levels reduced to 0.56 parts per Billion – nearly 1/18 the content limit mandated by law.
CWLP’s Water Division Manager Todd LaFountain credits the city’s infrastructure investments for the utility’s ability to produce and deliver a high quality water to Springfield, but most especially highlights the critical role of the utility’s personnel.
“As we heighten our efforts to replace water mains and service lines for our best in class Water Department, it’s all made possible by the many water professionals who work at CWLP,” said LaFountain.
“Whether it’s a water distribution crew, an operator, engineer, our various lake personnel or the professional staff in our Water Plant or Land & Water Resources area—they provide the means for the great service and water quality we seek to provide our customers each and every day.”
