California American Water, Monterey Peninsula School District and Seaside Middle School promote drinking water to benefit kids’ health and the environment

In support of a Monterey Peninsula Unified School District program, California American Water will donate 100-percent recyclable, reusable, BPA free, aluminum sports bottles to all Seaside Middle School students as part of an effort to encourage youth to drink more water while helping to reduce the plastic waste generated by bottled water.

In addition to the sports bottles, California American Water will provide each student with an activity book entitled “Our Water Supply on the Monterey Peninsula,” which was developed by California American Water and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, with help from local volunteers, to provide middle school students with information on the Carmel River Watershed, where their water comes from, how it is treated and delivered as well as the importance of water conservation.

Monterey County Supervisor Jane Parker’s office alerted California American Water to the MPUSD program, which was developed by the Wellness Committee, a division of the school district’s Nutrition Department.

"I am continually impressed by the interest and commitment of young people to protect our environment,” said Supervisor Parker. “This partnership between MPUSD and Cal Am is great because it gives our local students additional tools to reduce waste, understand where our water comes from, and serve as role models for the larger community."

“Water is one of the most important nutrients for young people,” said MPUSD Nutrition Services Supervisor Jennifer Gerard. “This program is designed to help students stay hydrated, live a healthy lifestyle and protect the environment.”

Seaside Middle School Principal Joan Nugent expressed enthusiasm for the program. “We’re excited to enhance our students’ access to drinking water,” she said. “Dehydration can affect mental and physical performance. Having sports bottles in addition to our drinking fountains will help our on-going efforts to create an environment where it’s easy for kids to make good choices about their health.”

California American Water General Manager Craig Anthony said the company was excited to support MPUSD and Seaside Middle School’s efforts. “Every day 60 million plastic bottles are disposed of in America,” he said. “We hope this project will encourage students to develop good habits early – to use water responsibly, to consume it without generating unnecessary waste and also to consider the impacts to the environment before turning on their taps.”

California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.