The Center for Environmental Resource Management (CERM) at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a recipient of the 2007 Texas Environmental Excellence Special Award given by the Texas Comission on Environmental Quality.  This is the second time CERM receives this state-wide recognition.  The first time CERM was a recipient of the award was back in 2000 under Texas Governor George W. Bush.  The 2007 award was for the university's Healthy Home Environments program, which is a community-based program for improving the household environent in the homes of residents of the Paso del Norte Region.

        CERM developed Agua Para Beber (Drinking Water), a community-based program for improving water quality and promoting safe hygiene practices in low-income border communities.  Agua Para Beber combines a hygiene education and water purification program with the distribution of low-cost, drinking water receptacles and utilizes the services of volunteer health promoters for implementation.  The goal of the program is to offer an intermediate solution to help improve the safety of drinking water, and thus, the quality of life for border residents.       

        The program was funded by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, Johnson & Johnson and internal CERM funding.  Through the generosity of our sponsors and professional hard work of its staff and partners, Healthy Home Environments is helping to improve the environment and quality of life of residents in the Paso del Norte Region.