Partnership for Clean Water

Partnership for Clean Water


Get Optimized with the Partnership for Clean Water

Wastewater Utilities Leading the Way

The Partnership for Clean Water is a global optimization and recognition program for wastewater utilities. It is established as a parallel program to the Partnership for Safe Water, which has successfully been helping drinking water utilities optimize performance for more than 25 years. The Partnership offers self-assessment and optimization programs so that operators, managers, and administrators have the tools to improve performance above and beyond even proposed regulatory levels.

Partnership Clean Water

Ready to optimize your wastewater operations and performance?

The Partnership for Clean Water is dedicated to protecting the environment and public health through wastewater utility operational excellence. Turn to trusted assessment tools, guidebooks, and accountability to help you maximize efficiency and build the future of water.

Got questions? Reach out to Partnership staff at partnership@awwa.org.

SUBSCRIBER RESOURCES

Partnership for Clean Water Subscribers have access to secure online account management and a data reporting tool.

Subscriber Access  

Wondering how subscribing to the Partnership for Clean Water can help advance you and your utility?

eBook

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Why Optimize?

With the increasing scarcity of high-quality raw water sources, drinking water utilities are considering treatment and use of alternative sources, such as impacted surface waters, aquifer recharge and recovery, or reuse. This new reality makes it increasingly difficult to define where “wastewater” ends and where “drinking water” begins, a sentiment echoed throughout the water community.

Optimizing the performance of wastewater treatment facilities to improve the quality of effluent water discharged to the natural environment can help to protect the quality of surface waters that may be utilized as a downstream drinking water source. The steps taken to improve effluent water quality also result in improvements in operational efficiencies and operating costs. The program’s unique self-assessment process can help to create a focus on results and a culture of excellence.

Awards & Recognition

Partnership for Clean Water awards provide positive recognition throughout the water community. 

View 2023 Award Winners View Previous Award Winners


Mission

The Partnership for Clean Water’s mission is to help utilities preserve environmental water quality and protect public health by optimizing wastewater utility operations and management.


Goal

The Partnership’s goal is to help utilities optimize wastewater treatment plant operations to improve effluent water quality, providing a margin of safety beyond current regulatory requirements—and to achieve this in the most energy-efficient manner possible.


Benefits

Why join the Partnership? See the benefits for your plant and community.

  • Optimization. Utilities completing the self-assessment improve effluent water quality, increase operational efficiencies, and reduce energy consumption. Benchmarking leads to year-over-year improvement and operational efficiencies.
  • Recognition. Partnership awards spotlight high-performance, strengthening community relationships and public trust.
  • Networking and growth. The Partnership staff and network of utility volunteers are here for you to provide coaching and mentoring. Learn from top water industry professionals and join a network of utility leaders dedicated to the highest level of water quality.

Process

The phases of Partnership programs:

  • Commitment. Utilities plan to participate, apply, and submit fees.
  • Baseline data collection. Utilities provide baseline data, establishing current performance so future improvements may be quantified.
  • Self-assessment. Utilities complete a comprehensive wastewater treatment plant self-assessment and provide a completion report, reviewed by industry experts, to become eligible for program awards.

Annual Fees

Utility Population Served Annual Fees
> 700,000 $3,820
525,001 - 700,000 $2,875
350,001 - 525,000 $1,910
175,001 - 350,000 $1,380
88,001 - 175,000 $1,060
35,001 - 88,000 $640
18,001 - 35,000 $320
< 18,000 $50

*Partnership fees cost utility customers less than 1 penny per year*