Pennsylvania American Water’s Philipsburg Water Treatment Plant, which serves approximately 7,700 customers in Clearfield and Centre counties, has received the elite Phase IV “Presidents Award” recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water.

The program is a volunteer initiative developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association and other organizations representing water suppliers striving to provide water quality that surpasses regulatory standards through treatment plant and distribution system optimization.  

Pennsylvania American Water’s facility has been participating in the Partnership since 1996, and is a member of the distribution system program. The Philipsburg plant received its first Directors Award in 1999. It is only the fourth treatment plant in Pennsylvania to receive the Presidents Award.

Phase IV goals are the highest possible level of performance that can be achieved in the four-phase program. The Presidents Award recognizes achieving Phase IV’s very stringent individual filter performance goals for turbidity (cloudiness).

“Reaching this elite status is a very significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to meet stringent performance goals,” said Paul Zielinski, senior director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. “Improving the quality of our drinking water remains a goal that we continually strive to meet and exceed. Our Philipsburg team worked very hard to earn the Presidents Award, and this recognition is a testament to their dedication and hard work on behalf of our customers.”

The national Partnership for Safe Water is a voluntary self-assessment and optimization program for water treatment plant and distribution system operation. More than 250 utility subscribers, collectively serving more than 100 million people, are committed to the Partnership’s goals of providing safe, high-quality drinking water through achieving operational excellence in water treatment.

Partnership members participate in a rigorous four-phase self-assessment and peer review process, developed by industry experts and are recognized for their commitment to delivering safe water to their communities.

For more information, visit DEP’s Partnership for Safe Water webpage.

3/17/2014