DENVER (March 30, 2015) – Powdersville Water is the first utility in South Carolina to achieve the Directors Award in the Partnership for Safe Water’s Distribution System Optimization Program and one of only eleven nationwide.

Powdersville Water received this award for successfully completing a comprehensive self-assessment of distribution system operations, a significant achievement towards ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality water to the community.

“The Partnership for Safe Water and AWWA congratulate Powdersville Water on being the first utility in South Carolina, and the 11th in North America, to receive the Directors Award for the distribution system optimization program,” stated Barb Martin, manager of Partnership programs. “While working with them through this process, I have been impressed that a utility of Powdersville Water’s size and staff would make such a significant commitment -- going beyond current regulatory requirements in order to protect public health.”

Powdersville Water is participating, as a charter member, in the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water Distribution System Optimization program inaugurated in 2011. The voluntary self-assessment process includes evaluation of distribution system operations and performance; identification of performance limiting factors; and the development of action plans to achieve distribution system optimization, culminating in a peer-reviewed completion report.

Powdersville Water will be one of a select group of utilities recognized at the annual conference and exposition of the American Water Works Association in June for achieving the Directors Award from the Partnership’s Distribution System Optimization Program.

“As a Partnership Distribution Program subscriber utility, we are honored to be the first utility in South Carolina to receive this award,” said Dyke Spencer, Powdersville Water’s executive director. “Our utility’s goal is to be top of our class in the water distribution field, and to continuously strive to optimize performance and water quality in our system. Achievement of the Directors Award demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protecting public health.”