DENVER, CO, March 14, 2005 -- The Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency's Paul M. Neal Water Treatment Facility in Lake Bluff, Ill., became just the third water utility ever to receive Phase IV "Excellence in Water Treatment" recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water.
This program is a national volunteer initiative developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other water organizations. Water suppliers in the Partnership strive to provide their communities with drinking water quality that surpasses the required federal standards. Phase IV is the highest possible level of performance that can be achieved in the Partnership program, and signifies optimized plant performance.
"Reaching the 'Excellence in Water Treatment' level of performance is a very significant achievement that demonstrates our steadfast commitment to superior water quality for our customers," said Executive Director Ed Glatfelter. "The performance requirements in the Partnership for Safe Water are stringent, but are something we wanted to meet for the benefit of our customers."
The partnership currently includes more than 200 water utilities, collectively serving more than 85 million people. Each utility has 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 treatment operations to reduce the risk of exposure to microbial contaminants that can cause illness. By making this commitment the member utilities' treatment practices undergo a rigorous review developed by national experts, and includes a four-phased self-assessment and peer review process.
The Partnership for Safe Water is sponsored by the 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, and the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF). For more information, see: www.epa.gov/safewater/psw/psw.html.
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