On May 7, the PA Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies recognized Sen. Robert M. “Tommy” Tomlinson (R-Bucks) with its James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence. 

The NAWC honored Tomlinson during its awards luncheon at the Pennsylvania Chapter’s Annual Meeting in Harrisburg.

The James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence is the highest honor bestowed by the NAWC, Pennsylvania Chapter.  The industry association presents the award each year to a resident of Pennsylvania who most exemplifies dedication to promoting the availability of safe drinking water in the Commonwealth.

“This award reflects our industry’s sincere gratitude to Senator Tomlinson for his years of dedicated public service and advocacy for policies that promote the availability of safe and reliable water and wastewater service for all Pennsylvanians,” said NAWC Pennsylvania Chapter Chairman John Hollenbach.

The Senator serves as Chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, which works to protect the rights of Pennsylvania consumers and ensures that individuals in regulated professions adhere to the highest standards.  

During his time as Chairman, Tomlinson has encouraged regulators and public utilities to adopt “best practices” to accelerate the replacement and upgrading of utility infrastructure to provide safe and reliable service.

“Throughout his career, Tomlinson has been a leader and has earned the admiration of his colleagues and the respect of regulators and the regulated community in Pennsylvania,” Hollenbach said.  “Tomlinson’s support and advocacy for accelerated infrastructure replacement, alternative ratemaking, and the replacement of customer-owned lead water service lines or damaged wastewater laterals has maintained the water and wastewater industry’s momentum, unified our efforts to improve quality of life, reinforced our responsibility to care for our common environment, and created jobs that stimulated the economy.”

“I am extremely honored to receive the James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies,” Sen. Tomlinson said.  “As the only public utility you consume, water is always of special importance to me as a legislator.  Pennsylvania continues to be ahead of the curve when it comes to the regulation of water and wastewater utilities, and I’m proud to have played a small part in maintaining and advancing that reputation.”

The NAWC Pennsylvania Chapter’s Annual Meeting coincides with “Drinking Water Week” in Pennsylvania, which was established more than 40 years ago to call attention to water as a precious natural resource. 

Many of us take for granted the instantaneous availability 24 hours a day of a safe and reliable drinking water service provided by viable community drinking water systems. 

Therefore, the Senate (Senate Resolution 92 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)) and House (House Resolution 271 (Metcalfe-R-Butler) ) adopted identical resolutions last week designating May 5-11, 2019, as “Drinking Water Week” in Pennsylvania to heighten awareness of drinking water treatment, monitoring, distribution and related costs and urge all residents of this Commonwealth to protect our watersheds, conserve our precious drinking water supply and preserve its superior quality.

Past winners of the James McGirr Kelly Award include: 2018 PUC Commissioner Robert F. Powelson, 2017 Patti Kay Wisniewski, DEP, 2016 Rep. John A. Maher (R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, 2014 Rep. Robert Godshall, 2013 Erik A. Ross, long-time advocate for the Association, 2012 former DEP Executive Secretary John Hines, 2011 John Hanger, DEP Secretary, 2010 former PUC Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli, 2009 Rep. Bud George, 2008 Rick Rogers, U.S. EPA Region 3, 2007 Paul K. Marchetti, 2005 Rep. Carole Rubley, 2004 Terrance J. Fitzpatrick, former Chair PUC, 2003 Fredrick A. Marrocco, DEP, 2002 David E. Hess, DEP Secretary, 2001 John M. Quain, former Chair PUC, 2000 Sen. Raphael J. Musto, 1999 Walter A. Lyon, 1998 Michael D. Klein, 1997 David A. Long, PhD, 1996 Gov. Tom Ridge, 1995 Sen. David J. Brightbill, 1994 Wendell F. Holland, 1993 William R. Shane, 1992 William R. Lloyd, 1991 Edith D. Stevens, 1990 Dr. Ruth Patrick, 1989 Gov. Robert P. Casey, 1988 Sen. D. Michael Fisher, 1987 George I. Bloom, 1986 Clifford L. Jones, DER Secretary, 1985 Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, DER Secretary, and in 1984 Gov. Dick Thornburgh.

The NAWC represents all aspects of the private water service industry including ownership of regulated drinking water and wastewater utilities and the many forms of public-private partnerships and management contract arrangements. 

The Pennsylvania Chapter consists of five member companies that provide safe and adequate drinking water service to over 3.1 million Pennsylvanians in 492 communities in 39 counties. 

In addition, three member companies provide wastewater service to approximately 195,000 Pennsylvanians in 34 communities across nine counties.

For more information on programs and initiatives, visit the PA Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies webpage.

(Photo: Sen. Tomlinson (left) receives James McGirr Kelly Award from John D. Hollenbach (right), Chairman, National Association of Water Companies, PA Chapter.)

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[Posted: May 8, 2019]

5/13/2019