Prestigious Award For Safe Drinking Water

EPCOR Water (USA) Inc. (EPCOR USA), a wholly owned subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc. (EPCOR), has received the “Director’s Award of Recognition” from the Partnership for Safe Water for the company’s Anthem Water Treatment Facility in Anthem, Arizona.

“Each day, our teams are focused on delivering safe, reliable, high-quality water and water service to our customers,” said Joe Gysel, president of EPCOR Water (USA) Inc. “To be among the select companies and facilities to receive the Director’s Award – recognition of the excellence we strive for every day and the commitment that we bring to water stewardship and to our customers – is something we are very proud of.”

EPCOR Water USA’s Anthem plant is one of the first membrane treatment facilities in the United States and only the third facility in Arizona to achieve the Director’s Award. Fewer than two percent of water utilities in the United States have achieved this recognition.

“Our goal is to continuously optimize operations and improve the quality of the water we deliver to our customers,” said Troy Day, vice president of EPCOR USA’s Arizona operations. “Achieving the Director’s Award demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protecting public health, and it reflects the high caliber of our operations and our team.”

EPCOR Water USA will be one of a select group of utilities honored by the Partnership for Safe Water at the Annual Conference of the American Water Works Association held in Boston from June 8-12, 2014. The company received the award for successfully completing Phase III of the Self-Assessment and Peer Review portion of the Partnership for Safe Water’s Treatment Optimization program.

“Achievement of the Directors Award reflects the tenacity of EPCOR Water’s Anthem Water Treatment Plant staff and their commitment to providing customers with safe, high-quality water,” Barbara Martin, Partnership for Safe Water Program Manager, said. “As one of a select group representing fewer than two percent of water utilities in the United States, EPCOR Water USA is commended for their accomplishments and focus on optimization.”

The Partnership for Safe Water is a program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) along with other partner organizations to guide water suppliers towards improving water quality by optimizing system operations without increasing operating costs. Phase III includes comprehensive evaluation of treatment plant operations and performance, identification of performance limiting factors and the development of action plans to achieve optimization.

“This award is a reflection of our commitment to achieving excellence in water quality, far beyond what is required by federal regulations,” commented Nina Miller, EPCOR Water USA’s Environmental Compliance Manager.

EPCOR USA is the largest, private regulated water utility in Arizona and New Mexico, providing water and wastewater services to approximately 198,000 customer connections across 22 communities and seven counties.

About The Partnership For Safe Water
The Partnership for Safe Water is a voluntary self-assessment and optimization program for water treatment plant and distribution system operation. More than 220 utility subscribers, collectively serving more than 85 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.

About EPCOR Water (USA) Inc.
About EPCOR Water (USA) Inc. (EPCOR USA) EPCOR USA is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, EPCOR USA’s wholly owned subsidiaries build, own and operate water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure in the southwestern United States.

About EPCOR Utilities Inc.
EPCOR’s wholly-owned subsidiaries build, own and operate electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure in Canada and the United States. The company’s subsidiaries also provide electricity and water services and products to residential and commercial customers. EPCOR, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, is an Alberta Top 60 employer.