The Partnership for Safe Water, a voluntary coalition overseen by the American Water Works Association, granted the award to honor the plant’s consistent operational improvements. Out of thousands of facilities nationwide, only about 400 surface water treatment plants participate in this optimization program, which focuses on exceeding federal and state safety standards.

West Virginia American Water President Scott Wyman noted that the accolade validates the company’s efforts to ensure that local residents receive water that surpasses all standard safety benchmarks. Jon Jarvis, senior manager of water quality and environmental compliance, credited the achievement to the dedicated local team in Bluefield. The utility also participates in the Partnership for Clean Water, a parallel initiative focused on wastewater utility performance.