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EVERETT RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR ONGOING SAFE WATER PRACTICES Ten Year Status in Program Receives National Recognition The City of Everett Public Works Department has received a national award for maintaining the Directors Award of recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water, a national volunteer initiative developed by EPA and other water organizations representing water suppliers striving to provide their communities with drinking water quality that surpasses the required federal standards. The Directors Award is presented to water systems who have completed a successful review in the Partnership’s Self- Assessment and Peer Review phase, a phase in which utilities examine the capabilities of their treatment plant operation and administration and then create a plan for implementing improvements. Everett has maintained the Directors Award for ten years, an honor achieved by only 32 water utilities across the country. Developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other water organizations striving to provide optimum quality drinking water, the Partnership currently includes more than 200 water utilities, collectively serving more than 85 million people. This represents 60% of the U.S. population served by surface water systems. Everett’s ongoing participation in the program includes a rigorous review of treatment practices developed by national experts, and also includes a four-step, self- assessment and peer-review process. “Maintaining Directors Award status for ten years demonstrates our philosophy of constant vigilance to improve water quality,” said public works director, Dave Davis. “We are thrilled to receive national recognition for this ongoing commitment.” Everett was presented with the Ten-Year Directors Award at the American Water Works Association’s Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, in June. The Partnership for Safe Water is sponsored by the American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Association of Water Companies, and the Water Research Foundation (formerly the American Water Works Association Research Foundation).