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2007
Washington Drinking Water Week Awards
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In celebration of Drinking Water Week, May 6-12, 2007,
the Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water will
recognize individuals and organizations for their
commitment to providing safe and reliable drinking
water. The winners of this year's awards in each
category are:
Judy Davis, Homeowner,
Grant County
Winner in the category "Above and Beyond" |
Governor Gregoire
proclaims May 6-12, 2007 as Drinking Water Week
(Proclamation
PDF 728KB)
You can find more Drinking
Water Week information on the
American Water Works Association
Web Site.
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Davis, a homeowner on the
Paxson Platt Water System, played a major role in
bringing the failing water system back into compliance
with state regulations. When state officials cited
Paxson Platt for too much nitrate in the water, outages,
and failing to employ a certified water works operator,
Davis was instrumental in rallying the community to
petition the City of Moses Lake for direct water
service. Moses Lake has completed the necessary
engineering, and is prepared to begin construction.
Jacqueline “JJ” Bellinger,
Okanogan County Public Health District
Winner in the category "Friend of Drinking Water"
Bellinger, an environmental
health specialist for the county, often works weekends
and holidays to help water systems resolve contamination
issues or quickly get lab results. Last July, she worked
two weekends in a row and sacrificed part of her
vacation to help two systems identify contamination
sources and take steps to protect public health.
Bellinger manages the county drinking water program,
inspects water systems and wells for water quality
problems, provides technical advice, and runs the local
health department’s drinking water lab.
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Washington Water Service
Company
Winner in the category "Grace Under Pressure"
When a windstorm blew the
power out in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, King, Mason,
Pierce, and Thurston counties last December, Washington
Water Service employees made sure residents of their 197
water systems didn’t lose drinking water. The company
had an emergency response plan and a communications
system to let customers know when they would have water
restored. Employees worked long hours to ensure all
customers had water at least part of each day. At one
point, they were refueling and rotating portable
generators among 135 water systems.
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Norm Kramm, City of
Vancouver
Winner in the category "Lifetime Achievement"
Kramm is an outstanding
leader in the water industry with 30 years of public
service. In the 24 years since he became Vancouver’s
superintendent of water production and quality in 1983,
the size of the utility has doubled, population has
quadrupled, and public works staff have tripled. Kramm
led Vancouver’s water production during the Mt. Saint
Helens eruption, and has dealt with contaminants in a
well field, earthquakes, windstorms, major water main
breaks, and the largest annexation in state history.
Although recently retired, he continues to mentor others
in his field.
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Town of Eatonville
Winner in the category "Most Improved"
Facing rapid population
growth and water quality problems, Eatonville built a
new reservoir, rebuilt its telemetry system, and
constructed a new state-of-the-art water-treatment
plant. The town can now adequately treat water,
accommodate rapid growth, and provide more reliable
water service to its customers. |
Award presentation ceremonies will
be held in various locations in May.
If you have questions, please call
or email
Donna Lynch (360) 236-3167. |
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WASHINGTON WATER
SERVICE COMPANY 