CONNECTICUT — Connecticut Water Co. has been given two major awards by the Connecticut Construction Industries Association.

The utility received the CCIA's Community Service Award for its Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program, which provides schools in its service communities with touch-free water bottle filling stations, and a Safety Recognition Award for excellence in construction health and safety.

"The safety award reflects the deep commitment of the company’s leaders and employees to make sure that at the end of the day our people safely return to their family and friends,” Connecticut Water President Maureen Westbrook said. "We are also proud to be recognized for our Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program. As an organization, we are always looking at ways to support public health by providing improved access to high-quality water service without the environmental toll of single-use water bottles. The touchless fill stations provide added safety protection for students and staff during the pandemic."

Connecticut Water's School Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program was established to assist and encourage schools that are served by Connecticut Water to adopt a more sustainable approach and provide students and staff access to reliable and convenient tap water to refill personal, refillable bottles. The program, established in 2020, awards a total of $15,000 in grants each year toward the purchase of the stations. While the program was launched prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, its importance has increased as schools work to limit the spread of COVID-19 by shutting down traditional water fountains.

It is the 18th consecutive year that Connecticut Water has received CCIA's Safety Recognition Award. Companies recognized by CCIA have demonstrated solid construction safety and health programs and are evaluated across 17 safety categories, including management involvement, employee training, safety hazard analysis, noncompliance and correction of violations. At Connecticut Water, a cross-functional safety committee, comprising nearly 10 percent of the work force, meets on a bimonthly basis to review and reduce incidents and injuries, with a focus on providing a safe and healthy workplace for all areas of the company.

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