Introducing . . . The

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Operator's Center

Partnership Program Report

View a statewide summary report that contains information on the benefits and outcomes of the Partnership for Safe Water program.

Partnership for Safe Water Agreement

The Department of Environmental Protection has developed a Regional Partnership for Safe Water agreement. In accepting the regional agreement, the water supplier agrees to share the results of their Partnership efforts with the department, obtains all the benefits of the national program, and can receive specialized assistance and training from the department and the Pennsylvania Section American Water Works Association. View or download the agreement (40KB Adobe PDF file).

Particle Counters Available on Loan

The Department of Environmental Protection will loan Water Supply Partners an online particle counter on a weekly basis, for up to about one month. This equipment is intended to assist systems with completing a thorough self-assessment and provide an additional optimization tool. If you are currently a member of the Partnership for Safe Water, contact Ed Chescattie at the Department of Environmental Protection at 717-772-4018 or e-mail epfiltration@state.pa.us 

Hurry! DEP only has a limited number of particle counters for this loan program

Partnership for Safe Water Tools

The Department of Environmental Protection has developed tools for water systems to help them understand and comply with regulations. These tools will also help you in working through the Partnership self-assessment procedures. Click on one of the links below to access these tools on another area of the department's website.

• Filter Self-Assessment Example Report
  Available from the eLibrary, (3800-BK-DEP2750 6/2004)
  The purpose of this document is to serve as a supplement to Chapter 5 of EPA's Guidance Manual for Compliance with the Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: Turbidity Provisions. This document includes an example of an acceptable filter self-assessment report.
• Interpreting Filter Profiles slide show
  Graphic version  -or- Text version
  This is a PowerPoint presentation that gives specific guidance on interpreting filter profiles. Proper interpretation of filter profiles will help to identify causes of performance spikes.
• Workshops on Filter Optimization slide show
  Graphic version  -or- Text version
  Pennsylvania's Partnership for Safe Water members can turn to classroom training opportunities to optimize filter plant performance and prepare for future regulations. The Department of Environmental Protection has teamed up with the Pennsylvania Section American Water Works Association and the Small Public Water Systems Technical Assistance Center at Penn State Harrisburg to deliver three, full-day workshops on filter optimization techniques and new filter inspection techniques. In April of each year, workshops occur at the Allentown, Harrisburg, and Brackenridge Borough filtration plants. Partnership members obtain a special reduced rate. If you are currently a member of the Partnership for Safe Water, contact Diane Cox at the Pennsylvania Section AWWA at 717-774-8870 or e-mail dianecox@paawwa.org

Partnership for Safe Water Newsletters

The Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Section American Water Works Association (PA-AWWA) have teamed up to promote filter plant optimization in the state through the Partnership program. These newsletters contain tips and hints for Partnership members. Four times a year, PA-AWWA mails these newsletters to all of the Commonwealth's Partnership members. Click on one of the links below to access newsletters in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Latest version: Volume 7, Issue 1 (PDF file)

Archived versions

Volume 1, Issue 1 (PDF file)

Volume 1, Issue 2 (PDF file)

Volume 1, Issue 3 (PDF file)

Volume 2, Issue 1 (PDF file)

Note that there is no Volume 3, Issue 1

Volume 3, Issue 2 (PDF file)

Volume 3, Issue 3 (PDF file)

Volume 4, Issue 1 (PDF file)

Volume 4, Issue 2 (PDF file)

Volume 4, Issue 3 (PDF file)

Volume 4, Issue 4 (PDF file)

Volume 5, Issue 1 (PDF file)

Volume 5, Issue 2 (PDF file)

Volume 5, Issue 3 (PDF file)

Volume 5, Issue 4 (PDF file)

Volume 6, Issue 1 (PDF file)

Volume 6, Issue 2 (PDF file)

Volume 6, Issue 3 (PDF file)

Volume 6, Issue 4 (PDF file)

Opflow Article - Benefits of Phase III Self Assessment

Unless you’ve successfully worked through Phase III of the PfSW, you’re not likely to realize the numerous benefits the Partnership’s self-assessment process has to offer. This article describes how this unique process can have various benefits for both operational and administrative staff within a water utility. Partnership membership in PA is diverse; utilities of various size and operational complexity participate. More than Forty-two (42) PA Partners have successfully achieved Phase III status. These systems have taken various approaches to working through the Phase III process. Another purpose of this article is to provide some insight into the approaches other utilities have used to successfully work through Phase III. Whether you’re considering joining the Partnership or, currently a Partnership member working towards Phase III, you should find this article informative.  Click here to read the entire article published in the November 2004 issue of Opflow.

-- Reprinted from Opflow, Vol. 30, No. 11 (November 2004), by permission. Copyright © 2004, American Water Works Association (www.awwa.org).

AWWA Partnership for Safe Water Website

The following are examples of helpful documents on AWWA's Partnership for Safe Water website (click on the "InfoCenter" link and then look under "Sample Reports").

• View the annual report requirements for June data and information submittals (PDF File; 105 KB)
• View a Phase III checklist of items to include in the Self-Assessment report (Microsoft Word; 93 KB)
• View an example of an "adequate" Phase III Self-Assessment report (PDF File; 191 KB)
• View an example of an "excellent" Phase III Self-Assessment report (PDF File; 275 KB)

Partnership Optimization Poster

The PfSW and PADEP encourage all filter plant operators to strive to meet optimization goals. Striving to achieve optimized performance helps provide maximum protection from passage of waterborne disease-causing organisms. All PA PfSW members have received an optimization poster which outlines optimization goals.

Click on image for 
larger version

This poster should be displayed in a prominent location within the filter plant.

Partnership Fact Sheet

This fact sheet serves as an introduction to the Partnership for Safe Water and provides an overview of the benefits, costs, phases and DEP’s role. Click here to visit numerous drinking water publications and then select the Partnership for Safe Water Fact Sheet.

Phase III Water Drop Award

PA-AWWA provides a special award to PA Partners achieving Phase III.

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larger version

Partnership for Safe Water Homepage