The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) recently announced its participation in the Partnership for Safe Water, a national volunteer initiative that seeks to help water utilities improve local water supply reliability and water quality.

Developed by leading water engineers, scientists, and utility operations and management experts, the Partnership uses proven self-assessment optimization methods to identify and improve operations. Sponsored by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the program is supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and five other water organizations striving to provide optimum quality drinking water. DWM joins more than 300 water utilities in the program, which includes a rigorous review of water operation practices developed by national experts and a four-step, self-assessment and peer-review process.

“Our goal is to continually strive to improve our operations and water quality,” said Quinton Fletcher, DWM deputy commissioner of the Office Water Treatment and Reclamation. “Participating in the Partnership for Safe Water will provide us the opportunity to evaluate our water system operations, maintenance procedures, management practices and identify areas where system operations can be enhanced.”

As members of the Partnership, utilities make a pledge to their communities to improve system operations to reduce the risk of exposure to microbial contaminants and enhance system reliability. DWM will provide customers with continuous updates on their progress in the program.

The Partnership for Safe Water is a voluntary self-assessment and optimization program for water treatment plant and distribution system operation. More than 300 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 water utility optimization experts, and are recognized for their commitment to delivering safe water to their communities.

The Partnership for Safe Water is an alliance of 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.