Illinois American Water Premiers New Video Reminding Customers to Keep Fats, Oils and Grease from Crashing Holiday Parties

Rhea-AI Summary

Illinois American Water has launched a family-friendly animated video this holiday season to educate customers on preventing clogs caused by fats, oils, and grease (FOG). The video features engaging characters representing these substances as 'uninvited guests' that can harm plumbing and sewer systems. Justin Ladner, the company's president, emphasized the importance of proper disposal to avoid plumbing issues. The video is part of ongoing efforts to promote community health by encouraging best practices in wastewater management.

Positive

• Launch of an animated educational video to engage customers.
• Focus on reducing plumbing issues and sewer overflows during the holiday season.
• Innovative approach using humor to address a serious issue.

Negative

• None.

The Family-friendly animated video provides tips to defend drains from clogs this holiday season.

BELLEVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Illinois American Water is sharing an animated public service video reminding customers to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease (FOG) this holiday season. Properly disposing of FOG can help prevent clogs in household plumbing and sewer lines. The video features ugly sweater-wearing characters Fats, Oil, and Grease as uninvited holiday party guests who threaten to wreak havoc on pipes.

“The animated video is a fun way to draw attention to a serious issue,” said Illinois American Water President Justin Ladner. “We hope this educational video helps customers avoid home plumbing issues as well as decrease impact to critical community sewer systems.”

Illinois American Water reminds customers that, if poured down the drain, fats, oils and grease can stick to the inside of pipes and cause buildups that can clog pipes or lead to sewer overflows. Taking these easy steps to avoid FOG clogs will help protect pipes and watersheds:

• Never pour grease into sinks, toilets or down drains. Garbage disposals do not prevent grease clogs, and detergents that claim to dissolve grease may cause problems in other parts of the sewer system.
• Allow grease to cool and use a rubber scraper to remove fat, oil and grease from cookware, plates, utensils and cooking surfaces. Once cooled, place the grease in a sealed container and dispose of it in the trash.
• Install a strainer in your kitchen sink to catch scraps and empty them into the garbage.

Also, avoid flushing wipes, even those labeled flushable or biodegradable, and paper towels down the toilet. These can cause major problems for wastewater systems. Always trash, never flush! Customers can find more wastewater tips, including Things That Should Never Go Down Your Drain, at www.illinoisamwater.com under Water Quality and Wastewater Service.

About Illinois American Water - Illinois 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 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. 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 more than 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 25 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Illinois American Water ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction
with Large Water Utilities in the Midwest according to the J.D. Power
2020 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study
For J.D. Power 2020 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211220005905/en/

Karen Cotton, Sr. Manager External Communications, 309.566-4126 or karen.cotton@amwater.com

Source: Illinois American Water

FAQ

What is the purpose of the new animated video by Illinois American Water?

The animated video aims to educate customers on properly disposing of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) to prevent plumbing clogs.

Why is fats, oils, and grease disposal important according to Illinois American Water?

Improper disposal of FOG can clog pipes and lead to sewer overflows, impacting community wastewater systems.

Who is the president of Illinois American Water?

Justin Ladner is the president of Illinois American Water.

Where can I find more information on wastewater tips from Illinois American Water?

Customers can find more tips on wastewater management at www.illinoisamwater.com under Water Quality and Wastewater Service.

What company owns Illinois American Water?

Illinois American Water is a subsidiary of American Water, which is listed on the NYSE under the ticker AWK.