A City of Yakima employee is among those being honored by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) next week for their efforts to provide safe and reliable drinking water.
Yakima Water/Irrigation Manager Dave Brown will receive the DOH’s Commitment to Excellence Award during the Yakima City Council’s regular meeting at 5:30 pm next Tuesday, May 7th.
“It is exciting to see DOH recognize Dave for his good work,” said Scott Schafer, Director of Public Works for the City of Yakima. “I appreciate his ongoing efforts for the City of Yakima and its residents.”
Brown is being honored for efforts that include playing a key role recently in assisting two failing water systems in the area and helping them find a safe, reliable water source. Brown was nominated for this award by the City’s Water/Irrigation staff.
Brown also chairs the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Water Use committee and is a board member of several other entities and boards.
Brown has worked for the City of Yakima for 35 years. He began his career with the City as a Water Treatment Plant Supervisor and worked his way up to his present position. He teaches certification training and is invested in his staff’s advancement and career goals. “He provides steady, reliable leadership in times of crisis,” the DOH said of Brown in announcing the award.
Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed May 5th through 11th “Drinking Water Week” in the state of Washington. In his proclamation, Inslee noted, “…what we do today to protect our drinking water and invest in the infrastructure that delivers it will affect the prosperity and well-being of future generations.”
Brown (Commitment to Excellence) is one of seven “2019 Drinking Water Week Award Winners” that will be honored next week by DOH.
The others are Peggy Barton, director of Washington Certification Services at Auburn Green River College (Lifetime Achievement); City of Spokane (Commitment to Excellence); City of Anacortes (Most Innovative); and Emilia Blake, Water Quality coordinator for Skagit Public Utilities (Commitment to Excellence). In addition, Paul Robischon, retired from Washington Water Services, and Kathleen Cahill, retired manager of Bremerton Water Resources, will both receive Lifetime Achievement awards.
Visit https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/water-irrigation/ for more information about City of Yakima drinking water and irrigation services.
