Why should a water system become a member of the Partnership for Safe Water?
The Partnership program works on the principle that “it is better to fix the roof when skies are sunny.” The federal government has already proposed stricter performance requirements for filter plants that treat surface water. Accordingly, the program provides operators, managers and administrators with the tools to assess the filter plant and prevent problems or possible violations before they occur. Furthermore, when a water system becomes a member called a “Water Supply Partner” all staff at the filter plant are encouraged to identify weaknesses in the treatment processes that could lead to problems under challenging conditions. The program shows operators how to focus on optimizing treatment under the most difficult circumstances. These conditions include poor source water quality, failure of critical equipment, and high system flow demands. Thus, the Partnership also works under the premise that “it is better to inspect the roof before it rains” in case a “fix” is needed.
