Water Treatment Plants Maintain Directors Award Status

left to right: President/CEO Ed Archuleta, Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Michael Parker, Mayor John Cook

left to right: President/CEO Ed Archuleta, Robertson/Umbenhauer Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Genaro Mota, Mayor John Cook

The Jonathan Rogers and Robertson/Umbenhauer Water Treatment Plants have received Phase III Directors Award status for 2007. This recognition, given by the Partnership for Safe Water, represents a commitment to consistently achieve a better than 50 percent improvement over regulatory standards.

The Partnership for Safe Water is an alliance formed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and five national drinking water organizations. El Paso’s two surface water treatment plants have been participants for several years.

To receive Phase III status, the staff conducts a self-assessment of the plant’s engineering, operations, maintenance and administration. The findings are used to develop a plan for improving water quality without incurring major capital improvements expenses.

The plants received Phase III status after demonstrating that operations and administration had improved more than 50 percent. Each received the Director’s Certificate of Recognition in 2004 and maintained Directors Award status in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Only 183 of the nation’s surface water treatment plants received the Phase III Directors Award in 2007. El Paso’s plants will receive the Partnership’s Five-Year Directors Award if they maintain Phase III status in 2008.