The York Water Co. Water Plant in York County recently became the newest member of the Partnership for Safe Water Treatment Program, a voluntary effort to provide safe drinking water.  Presently, the water system provides drinking water service to approximately 159,623 people. 

The York facility is the fourth plant in York County to join the treatment program.

The Partnership for Safe Water is made up of DEP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Section American Water Works Association and other drinking water organizations.  Its goal is to implement preventative measures that are based on optimizing treatment plant performance.

The treatment program is specifically geared toward identifying weaknesses in plant operation, design and administration that could lead to a breakthrough of waterborne disease-causing organisms into the finished water that is distributed to consumers.  Correcting these weaknesses helps prevent waterborne disease outbreaks from pathogenic organisms like Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

By participating in the program, the York Water Co. Water Plant is working to provide an additional measure of protection to its drinking water consumers.

The Partnership for Safe Water also offers a “Distribution” Program for water suppliers who wish to pursue optimization of their distribution system.

Currently, 118 surface water treatment plants serving over 6.1 million people are now involved in Pennsylvania's Partnership for Safe Water Treatment Program.

For more information, visit DEP’s Partnership for Safe Water Treatment Program webpage or contact Kevin Anderson at 717-783-9764 or send email to: keanderson@pa.gov.

(Reprinted from DEP’s April 17 Newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

4/21/2014