A Peorian With Decades of Water Treatment Experience

Lori, who lives and works in Peoria, is the Production Superintendent for Illinois American Water’s Peoria District. In this role, she oversees the daily operation of the district’s water treatment facility. This involves supervising a staff of five maintenance employees and four water operators, as well as the water quality supervisor at the facility’s onsite laboratory. Lori also is responsible for keeping the facility’s equipment upgraded and operational. “My role ensures that we are producing a quality product, so that when you turn on the tap, you have water there to use, and that it’s safe,” Lori explains. “That’s how I help our customers.”

Lori’s extensive scientific background makes her ideally suited for this important position. At the beginning of her career, she earned a degree in medical laboratory technology, and then worked at an environmental lab. In that position, she was in charge of the bacteriological department, which analyzed bacteria in water samples.

In 2013, Lori was promoted to her current position, Production Superintendent. She says she truly cares about Illinois American Water customers in the Peoria area, and she is proud of the work her team does every day to ensure a safe, reliable product.

In 1991, she left that job to take a position with Illinois American Water’s Peoria District, working in the local water treatment facility’s laboratory. “I was well-suited for the laboratory job here, at the treatment plant,“ Lori explains, “and I was doing many of the same tasks I performed at the environmental lab.”

Lori demonstrated exemplary dedication to her job, and later was promoted to the facility’s water quality supervisor position, which put her in charge of water quality for the entire Peoria area. One aspect of that job she really enjoyed was dealing directly with Peoria-area customers. “When I was in the water quality department, I interacted with customers quite a bit and resolved issues they may have had,” states Lori.

An Expert Who Is Focused on Water Quality

Lori wants local citizens to be assured that Illinois American Water ensures a safe and abundant water supply. “We have employees working 24/7 to ensure that when customers turn on the tap, they receive water—and that it’s quality water.”

“I think we serve our customers very well,” Lori states. “We meet or go above and beyond the required water quality standards that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) establishes. And locally, we are a member of the Partnership for Safe Water [a national program designed to achieve operational excellence in water treatment].

Outside of work, Lori enjoys gardening, and likes to grow both flowers and vegetables.

Lori noted that Illinois American Water’s Peoria District earned the Partnership for Safe Water’s prestigious “Ten-Year Director’s Award.” This award honors water utilities for achieving operational excellence, by voluntarily optimizing their treatment facility operations and adopting more stringent performance goals than those required by federal and state drinking water standards.

A Proud Employee of Illinois American Water

“Our parent company is American Water, which is located not only in Illinois, but in over 30 states around the nation,” states Lori. “It’s a wonderful company to work for. I’ve worked 24½ years for Illinois American Water and American Water, and I can’t say enough good things about the company.”

“A lot of folks don’t realize that Illinois American Water, not the City, has run the water treatment facilities here in Peoria for a very, very long time. We are very dedicated to our jobs.”

Lori also says she feels proud to be an employee of Illinois American Water. “I’m very proud to work here because we’re making a quality product that folks consume. I have relatives that I’m providing this for, and the whole city and surrounding communities. We have to ensure that it is a quality product 24/7. It’s a very rewarding experience to make something like that, something that someone consumes and feels good about.”

Meet a few of the local folks that work around the clock, all year long, to ensure safe drinking water to the Peoria area.

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“I believe that Illinois American Water is the best at what they do. And I think our track record has proven that. We don’t want or need the City to run us or buy us out. We are the water experts, and that’s the way it should remain.”

Lori also points out that the local water system’s infrastructure is very old and, therefore, requires ongoing improvements that require significant funding. “Every year, we put millions of dollars into upgrading our facilities and our infrastructure,” she says. “For instance, between 2010 and 2012, all four of our local facilities underwent upgrades that were $24 million in total. Those upgrades ensured that we could provide water for the future. For example, the river treatment plant went from being able to produce 10 million gallons of water a day to 20 million. So it increased our reliability. Also, we were the second area in the state to install ultraviolet disinfection, which adds another barrier of protection for our customers, to ensure that the water is safe to drink.”

Lori says she also appreciates how Illinois American Water supports the Peoria area in other ways. “For example, the company gives out environmental grants that help out around our community,” she explains. “And every year in September, we have AmerICANs in Action, where groups of employees form and support their charities of choice by raising donations. Last year, our group decided to support PAWS, the local animal shelter.”