Worth Noting - July 2024

PEOPLE/AWARDS

Lynn Terrien of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Lower Fox River Monitoring Program received the 2024 NEW Watershed Champion Award from the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Jeff Reininger, superintendent of the South Beloit Wastewater Department, was named Wastewater System Operations Specialist of the Year by the Illinois Rural Water Association.

Glen Bies, public works employee in Stevensville, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Montana Rural Water Systems. He was a licensed water and wastewater treatment operator for 34 years.

Rep. Tracy O. King received a Rural Water Champion Award from the Texas Rural Water Association for his lifetime of service in the Texas House of Representatives.

Governor Brad Little received a Friend of Rural Water award from the Idaho Rural Water Association.

Kouao-Eric Ekoue, superintendent at the New Brunswick Water Utility, received a Meritorious Operator Award from the AWWA New Jersey Chapter.

Columbus (Wisconsin) Utilities won the award for America’s Best Tasting Water from the National Rural Water Association.

The City of Yakima won the Central Washington Best Tasting Water contest for the second year in a row from the state AWWA chapter.

Ken Kirk, a former CEO and executive director of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies and a longtime water advocate and leader, passed away on March 18.

Martin Adams, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, was honored for 40 years of service by the city’s Board of Water and Power Commissioners.

Pete Rogalsky, public works director in Richland, Washington, retired after more than 30 years of service.

James “Jim” D. Behmer, P.E., utilities director in Salisbury-Rowan, North Carolina, retired after more than 30 years in the water industry. He worked for the city of Salisbury for 23 years, 16 as utilities director.

Melanie Mow Schumacher, special projects/communications manager and assistant general manager of the Soquel Creek (California) Water District, was promoted to general manager, replacing Ron Duncan, who will retire in September.