It’s in Dieterich, Ill., and surrounding rural areas served by EJ Water Cooperative. The American Water Works Association in its annual “Best of the Best” Tap Water Taste Test rated EJ Water one of the top 20 water utilities in the country and the best in Illinois for 2013. One of the reasons for the great tasting water is the state-of-the-art treatment plant which was opened in 2010. The Delbert D. Mundt Water Treatment Plant, located in rural Beecher City, allows the water co-op to provide great tasting, safe water at a lower cost. The water co-op will have approximately 2.0 MGD of un-used capacity that will give years of growth for its members.
Since its humble beginnings, EJ Water Cooperative, Inc. has developed into a ten-county regional water system, serving members in Effingham, Jasper, Clay, Cumberland, Richland, Shelby, Fayette, Crawford, Montgomery and Christian counties. It is one of the fastest growing rural water systems in Illinois. The system currently has over 2,000 miles of water mains and serves a population base of approximately 30,000. The water co-op also provides wholesale water to the Villages of Clay City, Dieterich, Edgewood, Louisville, Mason, St. Peter, Watson, Ste. Marie, Stewardson, RE Water Company and Fayette Water Company. EJ also has interconnects with Effingham, Newton, Moultrie County Rural Water, Shelbyville and Hardinville Water Company.
