Joliet earns Gold Water Ambassador award; conservation program winners honored

The City of Joliet was presented the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association (ISAWA) 2024 Gold Level Water Ambassador Award and recognized winners of its first-quarter 2025 water conservation incentive program at the May 19 pre-council workshop.

Lisonbee Swisher, director of public utilities for the City of Joliet, said the award recognizes the city’s efforts to educate residents following the switch to Lake Michigan source water. Annie Storey of the Illinois Section AWWA presented the award and described the statewide Water Ambassador program as an outreach and education effort for water operators, engineers and the public.

“We often turn on our tap and expect it to be there,” Annie Storey said, explaining the program’s goal of improving public understanding of water sources and conservation. Storey said Joliet achieved Gold status for the second consecutive year and was one of 26 utilities in Illinois to earn that level in 2024.

The council also honored winners of the city’s Q1 2025 water conservation incentives: adult winner Donna Adleman, recognized for inspecting her home for leaks, and a child winner, Clarence, who won the kids coloring challenge. Public utilities staff member Anne Grooms was thanked for coordinating the program.

Swisher encouraged residents to participate in upcoming Q2 outdoor-conservation challenges and in established programs such as the rain-barrel subsidy and the low-flow toilet rebate. City staff said the utilities department will staff booths at community events including Star Wars Days and Kids Fest, and will co-host a water-conservation-themed Slammers event in August with Will County Green.

No formal council action was taken on the presentation; the award and recognitions were ceremonial and informational.