Water quality operators honored for work

Delaware’s water operators were recently honored at an annual ceremony held at Delaware Technical & Community College, Owens Campus.

The recipient of the 2010 Water Operator of the Year Award was Michael Funk, a senior operator for the North District of Tidewater Utilities. The other nominee was Brandon Slater, senior water technician for the Town of Blades.

An Environmental Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to John King, supervisor for the City of Wilmington, in recognition of his sustained meritorious achievement and significant contributions to Delaware’s environment. King also was cited for his leadership and knowledge in the both the water and wastewater fields.

Guest speakers were Hal Godwin, Sussex County deputy administrator, and Joe Godwin, state revolving funds circuit rider for the Delaware Rural Water Association. Their presentation, titled “The Evolution of Drinking Water - A Look through the Times in America,” gave an overview of the history of water from pre-European colonization through the 21st century and beyond. They suggested the public ask questions, discover and look for new ways to ensure the quality of local water, and continue to ask governments to make water quality a priority.

The statewide Operator of the Year Awards Ceremony serves to highlight the role of Delaware’s water and wastewater operators in protecting the environment. Award winners are chosen for their outstanding technical excellence and exemplary work ethic contributing to the high level of water quality in Delaware. The ceremony is held each year on the Owens Campus, which provides a state-of-the-art Environmental Training Center for the hands-on education of operators from Delaware and surrounding states. The center has earned an international reputation for the excellence of its training programs.

Cosponsors of the event were the Delaware Rural Water Association; Delaware Department of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water; Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, Division of Water Resources; Delaware On-Site Wastewater Recycling Association; Water and Wastewater Operators Association, Eastern Shore Chapter; and the Environmental Training Center at Delaware Tech, Owens Campus.