Apply for membership by completing the application form for the utility and the plants you wish to have participate. Participation is open to all surface water filtration plants, regardless of size and process configuration. Annual fees are based on population and carry a low annual rate to encourage participation by utilities of all sizes:

Population-based annual fees are listed below (US dollars). The Partnership for Safe Water is open to international utilities! International utilities should contact Partnership staff for international utility subscription fees. 

• >700,000 – $3,600
• 525,001-700,000 – $2,700
• 350,001-525,000 – $1,800
• 175,000-350,000 – $1,300
• 88,001-175,000 – $1,000
• 35,001-88,000 – $600
• 18,001-35,000– $300
• <18,000 – $50

Download the Treatment Program application

Find out what’s involved in the Phase II program and the requirements that subscribers follow to be part of the Partnership for Safe Water. Specific report guidelines, checklists and guidance are provided to Partnership subscribers.

Baseline Report. Systems new to the Partnership submit an initial Baseline Report of water quality. An example Baseline Report, typically submitted in letter format, is provided below. 

Download Baseline Reporting Requirements

Annual Reports. All systems with continued participation in the Partnership for Safe Water submit data reports on an annual basis for inclusion in the Partnership’s annual report of aggregate water quality data. An example Annual Report is provided below. Annual reports are due in June.

Download Annual Report Requirements

Regulatory Compliance Policy. Utilities enrolled in the Partnership for Safe Water must be in full compliance with applicable health-based regulations for at least the preceding six months. A signature is required on the treatment application to indicate that the plant(s) you are enrolling satisfy this requirement and that you agree to notify the Partnership within one month of receiving a notice of violation.

Phase III Directors Awards recognize utilities that produce high-quality water, have completed a comprehensive treatment plant self-assessment, and submit a self-assessment completion report, which features an action plan for continuous improvement.  Learn more about Directors Award guidelines, requirements, and resources below.

Note that the Partnership for Safe Water updated its self-assessment guidance in 2015. The new guidance "Self-Assessment for Water Treatment Plant Optimization" is available at no charge to all program subscribers and provides the structure for future self-assessment completion reports. Please see below for resources supporting the new guidance manual. Contact the Partnership with questions - or to receive your free copy of the guide.    

Basis. Are you ready to take the next step toward treatment plant optimization?

Learn about the basis for achieving the Directors Award

Checklist. Learn about the Phase III self-assessment report requirements by reviewing the Self-Assessment Completion Report Checklist.

Access the Updated Phase III Checklist (PDF - for use with the 2015 version guidance)

Partnership Resources. Utilize the self-assessment completion report template as a guide and framework for the Phase III self-assessment completion report. Respond to the template questions and provide supporting information to make it easy to complete and submit the self-assessment completion report. Use of the template is strongly encouraged, to simplify the report creation process. Completed reports are reviewed by a committee of select water utility optimization experts.

Download the self-assessment template (for use with 1997 version guidance)

Download the updated self-assessment template (for use with 2015 version guidance).  Note that for Chapter 4, plants are only required to address the questions related to treatment processes utilized at the facility. 

Software. The Partnership provides software to members that enables plants to compile and statistically analyze turbidity data for annual submission.  A separate Excel-based software program assists plants with assessing current treatment process capacity and potential.  Read more about Partnership software programs in the User Guides.
 
Software User Guide – Turbidity Data Collection
Software User Guide – Process Performance Assessment

Annual Reports. Phase III Directors Award recipients are committed to continuous improvement of plant performance. Participants submit annual reports of turbidity data and a narrative describing the ways that the plant is working towards optimization.  Long term compliance makes plants eligible for 5, 10, and 15-Year Directors Award recognition. 

Download Annual Report Requirements

You’re in good company! Access a list of current Partnership for Safe Water award recipients.

Current award recipients 

The Phase IV Presidents & Excellence Awards recognize treatment plants that have achieved the highest levels of optimization and individual filter turbidity performance. A treatment plant must be a Phase III Director’s award plant in good standing to apply for Phase IV awards. Phase IV completion reports are reviewed against stringent quality requirements by a team of water industry experts. Phase IV award recipients represent some of the most optimized treatment plants in North America and produce extremely high quality drinking water.

Is your plant ready to take the next step toward optimization? Find out more about the Phase IV awards and application process. Submit your Phase IV Process registration form. Registering your intent to begin the Phase IV optimization process is required and allows Partnership staff and volunteers to better support you throughout the process.

Prepare a comprehensive Phase IV application. The Phase IV application report provides evidence of optimization through the submission of water quality data, filter profiles, narrative explanations of the plant’s continuous improvement process and supporting documentation. Access Phase IV guidelines and tips related to completing the Phase IV report below, as well as report checklists to gain a full understanding of the report's intended scope. Phase IV recognition is available at two levels: the Presidents Awards and the Excellence Award.

Presidents Award report guidelines and checklist
Excellence Award report guidelines and checklist 

Phase IV Reviews. Phase IV reports are reviewed by a committee of industry experts, which often includes personnel from other Phase IV recipient utilities. Phase IV awardees are recognized annually at ACE.

Resources. The Partnership provides software to members that enables plants to compile and statistically analyze 4-hour turbidity data for annual submission.  Note that the 15-minute IFE turbidity data required for Phase IV plants is submitted using the plant’s choice of format and software. Read more about Partnership software in the User Guide.

Software User Guide – Turbidity Data Collection
Software User Guide – Process Performance Assessment

Annual Reports. Phase IV Presidents and Excellence award recipients are committed to maintaining the highest levels of plant optimization. Participants submit annual reports of turbidity data (including IFE) and a narrative describing how the plant continues to improve optimization. Long-term compliance makes plants eligible for 5-year and 10-year Phase IV recognition. 

You’re in good company! Access a list of current Partnership for Safe Water award recipients.

Current award recipients

Subscribe to the Partnership for Safe Water by completing the application form for the utility distribution system you will have participate. Dues are based on population and carry a manageable and low annual rate to encourage participation by utilities of all sizes.

Population-based Annual Dues

• >700,000 – $3,600
• 525,001-700,000 – $2,700
• 350,001-525,000 – $1,800
• 175,000-350,000 – $1,300
• 88,001-175,000 – $1,000
• 35,001-88,000 – $600
• 18,001-35,000 – $300
• <18,000 – $50

Download and return the Distribution Program application
Dowload the Distribution Program Overview

Phase II Baseline and Annual Data Collection and Submission Requirements.
Baseline and annual reporting of distribution system disinfectant data is required for all Phase II systems. Specific report guidelines, checklists, software and guidance are provided to Partnership for Safe Water subscribers.
Download 'Getting Started' overview

Baseline report. Systems new to the Partnership for Safe Water submit an initial Baseline Report of distribution system disinfectant residual concentrations. This report also includes a cover letter and a statement of regulatory compliance.

Annual reports. All systems with continued participation in the Partnership for Safe Water submit data reports on an annual basis for inclusion in the Partnership’s annual report of aggregate distribution system water quality data. Learn about program guidelines below.
Download Baseline & Annual Reporting Guidelines

Regulatory compliance policy. Utilities enrolled in the Partnership for Safe Water must be in full compliance with applicable health-based regulations that apply to the water distribution system for at least the preceding six months. A signature is required on the distribution program application to indicate that the distribution system(s) you are enrolling satisfies this requirement and that you agree to notify the Partnership within one month of receiving a notice of violation.

The Phase III Directors Award recognizes utilities that have completed a comprehensive distribution system self-assessment report. The self-assessment process incorporates data collection and an evaluation of the distribution system that identifies system strengths and areas for potential improvement. Phase III systems gain valuable knowledge about their distribution systems and create an action plan for continuous improvement. Reports submitted are reviewed by a team of industry experts. A pilot group of utilities is currently completing a trial of the Phase III Self-Assessment process.

To gain a better understanding of what is required to be included in a Phase III Completion Report and what's considered when approving the Phase III Directors Award, follow the links below to learn how utilities prioritize and focus their report and access the checklist to better understand report elements:
Learn about prioritizing and focusing
!Download the Phase III Checklist
Download the Self-Assessment Template
Download the Distribution Example Self-Assessment Report

* Prior to beginning a Phase III self-assessment, please email Todd Brewer
** Note about developing the self-assessment process and report:

It is very important to note that Phase III is a process that focuses on active participation of as many utility staff as possible to conduct a thorough and candid self-assessment. The ultimate goal is identification of factors limiting optimal performance; and, development of associated action plans to feasibly address these performance limiting factors in a timely fashion. This report is provided because it is an excellent example of the outputs and outcomes of the previously described self-assessment process; however, it is not intended to provide an example of optimal distribution system operational procedures or modes of operation.

Phase III Self Assessment: The Self-Assessment Guide for Distribution System Optimization is available for purchase and is a valuable resource for utilities considering undertaking a self-assessment of their distribution system to learn more about their system and make them eligible for Phase III award status.

Partnership Resources. Software is provided to Partnership for Safe Water subscribers to facilitate the collection and submission of disinfectant, pressure and line break data.

Email us to receive user guides

The Phase IV Partnership for Safe Water Awards recognize utilities that have achieved the highest levels of optimization and water quality in their distribution systems. A distribution system must hold Phase III Director’s Award status to apply for Phase IV awards.

Learn about Phase IV Presidents Award Guidelines and report requirements.

Utilities achieving Phase IV status represent some of the most optimized distribution systems in North America that produce extremely high quality drinking water and are committed to maintaining the highest levels of optimization.