(Denver, Colo.) – Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, City Creek, Parleys and Big Cottonwood Water Treatment Plants, members of the Partnership For Safe Water program, received the “Directors Certificate of Recognition” from the Partnership (American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Association of Water Companies, American Water Works Association Research Foundation) for successfully completing the self-assessment phase of the Partnership program. 

The Partnership For Safe Water is a national volunteer initiative developed by EPA and other water organizations for water suppliers wanting to provide their community with drinking water quality that is far better than required by federal standards.

 Currently, the Partnership includes more than 200 water utilities, serving nearly 90 million people, committed to the enhancement of drinking water quality and operational excellence in water treatment.  As members of the Partnership, utilities make a pledge to their communities to improve their treatment operations to reduce the risk of exposure to microbial contaminants, specifically Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause intestinal illness.  The commitment subjects the utilities’ water treatment practices to a rigorous review developed by national experts and includes a four-phased, self-assessment and peer-review process. 

Many more utilities across the nation are expected to complete the self-assessment phase of the Partnership program in the next few months.  They too will receive the “Director’s Certificate of Recognition” from the Partnership For Safe Water when they reach that millstone. 

Contact: Bill Lauer

American Water Works Association

6666 W. Quincy Avenue

Denver, CO 80235

303/347-6220, Fax: 303/794-6303

E-mail: blauer@awwa.org