A federal committee that advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on issues related to the national drinking water program recently appointed a new member nominated by the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Nancy Quirk (pictured right), general manager of the Green Bay Water Utility in Wisconsin, was sworn in as one of 15 members of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) last month. She joins several other AWWA members who represent a variety of additional public and private organizations on the committee.
“We know that our regulators at the EPA have access to the best science and critical research. Applying that research and science in order to govern the water industry – that’s where we as the council come in to provide what we know to be true from our own areas of expertise,” Quirk said.
Quirk, who has been with Green Bay Water for more than eight years, will serve a three-year term with NDWAC. She is a past AWWA Director and member of the Water Utility Council. She also served as chair of the Wisconsin Section and received the George Fuller Award.
Under her leadership, Green Bay Water completed a five-year, $6 million lead service line replacement program in 2020 – one of the first utilities in the nation to do so. (Pictured left, Green Bay Water crews remove the system’s last lead service line)
“Nancy has served on numerous regional and statewide bodies providing input to state policies related to drinking water and water resources,” said Tracy Mehan, AWWA executive director of government affairs.
“She also has played an important role in AWWA’s water policy program, directing AWWA efforts toward activities like funding training on corrosion control practice, providing guidance to address Legionella, and supporting water system efforts to comply with America’s Water Infrastructure Act risk and resiliency provisions,” he added.
Quirk previously held positions with utilities in Waukesha and Madison, Wis., after earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville.
NDWAC was established under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 to provide EPA with independent perspectives on safe drinking water issues from state and local agencies, private and academic organizations, and other groups concerned with safe drinking water and public health.
Members attend one or two in-person meetings each year and may participate in ad hoc workgroups to develop policy recommendations, advice letters and reports to address specific program issues. In the past these have included groups focused on the Consumer Confidence Rule, Lead and Copper Rule and Microbials/Disinfection Byproducts Rules.
(Photos courtesy of Green Bay Water)
*Original article online at https://www.awwa.org/AWWA-Articles/quirk-appointed-to-federal-water-council-following-awwa-nomination