Norristown Water Treatment Plant In Pennsylvania Achieves Highest Level Of Performance

Pennsylvania American Water facility joins elite group to reach highest honor

Pennsylvania American Water’s Norristown Water Treatment Plant, which serves approximately 32,000 customers in Montgomery County, has received the prestigious Presidents Award from the Partnership for Safe Water. The program is a volunteer initiative developed by the U.S. EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, American Water Works Association (AWWA) and other organizations representing water suppliers that continuously provide water quality that surpasses regulatory standards.  

Pennsylvania American Water’s facility has been participating in the Partnership since 1996. The Norristown plant received the Directors Award in 2000, and it is the only Pennsylvania facility to earn the Presidents Award this year. Only three Pennsylvania water systems were recognized in 2014 for achieving the honor. This is Pennsylvania American Water’s second plant to be recognized with the Phase IV - Presidents Award. 

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

“Our Norristown team worked very hard to earn the Presidents Award, and this recognition is a testament to their expertise and dedication to better serve our customers,” said Paul Zielinski, senior director of water quality and environmental compliance for Pennsylvania American Water. “Reaching this elite status is a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to not only meet stringent performance goals but also improve the quality of our water.”

The 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.

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 Water Research Foundation.

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water
and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.2 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more than 45 states and parts of Canada.