Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Treatment Plant Recognized With Award for Outstanding Performance

Rhea-AI Summary

Aqua Pennsylvania's wastewater treatment plant in Upper Providence Township has won the Phase III Directors Award from the Partnership for Clean Water. This prestigious recognition highlights the plant's commitment to optimizing operations and preserving environmental water quality. Notably, it is the first facility in Pennsylvania and the tenth in the nation to receive this honor. Despite ongoing upgrades costing over $30 million, the team remained dedicated during the pandemic, underscoring their determination for operational excellence.

Positive

• Achieved Phase III Directors Award from the Partnership for Clean Water.
• First wastewater treatment plant in Pennsylvania and tenth in the U.S. to receive this recognition.
• Ongoing $30 million upgrade to improve facility operations.
• Demonstrated commitment to operational excellence despite pandemic challenges.

Negative

• None.

Aqua Pennsylvania’s wastewater treatment plant in Upper Providence Township, Delaware County has received the Phase III Directors Award from the Partnership for Clean Water, a global optimization and recognition program for wastewater utilities developed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and other organizations to guide wastewater utilities towards preserving environmental water quality by optimizing system operations. The plant provides wastewater treatment to the Borough of Media.

“We are proud of the significant effort by our Media wastewater operations team to participate in the partnership’s self-assessment and earn the directors-level honor,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “The staff remained committed to process while safely operating the facility during the global pandemic.”

Aqua’s Media wastewater plant team is one of a select group of organizations presented with the Directors Award based on their completion of the self-assessment and peer-review phase of the Partnership for Clean Water program. This included a comprehensive evaluation of treatment plant operations and performance, identification of performance-limiting factors, and the development of action plans to achieve optimization. Aqua’s Media wastewater plant is the tenth wastewater treatment plant in the country and the first in Pennsylvania to achieve this recognition.

“It’s essential that we clean wastewater so we can safely return it to the environment and protect public health,” said Aqua Pennsylvania Water Quality and Environmental Compliance Director Matt Miller. “Not only did our team continue to tirelessly perform their daily work as the plant undergoes a more than $30 million upgrade, but they found a way to safely keep moving toward the partnership initiative during the pandemic. This award shows the power of our team’s determination to achieve operational excellence and continuous improvement.”

More than 55 utility subscribers are committed to the Partnership for Clean Water’s goals of protecting public health by optimizing wastewater system operations and achieving operational excellence in wastewater treatment. Partnership members participate in a rigorous self-assessment and peer-review process developed by wastewater utility optimization experts and are recognized for their commitment to protecting public health for their communities.

All 11 of Aqua’s surface water treatment plants in Pennsylvania are enrolled in the Partnership for Safe Water, a program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AWWA and other organizations to guide water utilities towards improving drinking water quality by optimizing system operations. Four of Aqua’s surface water treatment plants have achieved Phase III Directors Award or higher partnership honors. AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world.

Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.4 million people in 32 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210706005612/en/

FAQ

What recognition did Aqua Pennsylvania's wastewater treatment plant receive?

The plant received the Phase III Directors Award from the Partnership for Clean Water.

Is Aqua Pennsylvania's wastewater treatment plant the first in Pennsylvania to win the Directors Award?

Yes, it is the first plant in Pennsylvania to receive this honor.

What was the cost of the upgrades to Aqua's wastewater treatment plant?

The upgrades to the plant cost over $30 million.

How many plants have achieved the Phase III Directors Award in the U.S.?

Aqua's Media wastewater treatment plant is the tenth in the country to achieve this recognition.

What is the Partnership for Clean Water?

It is a program aimed at optimizing wastewater utilities to preserve environmental water quality.