Environmental Progress - Spring 2001

AWWA Water Taste Test

Raising a glass isn't unheard-of at a professional conference, but the three people shown here aren't toasting, they're tasting. The "Water Taste Test" has become a popular feature at the annual meeting of the Illinois Section, American Water Works Association. At the 92nd annual meeting held in late March at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, three judges sampled tap water from six Illinois public water supplies. During the blind testing, they evaluated taste and clarity and checked for odors. The judges, shown from left, included Bernard P. Killian, deputy director of the IEPA; Kathy Rem, food editor for the Illinois State Journal-Register, published in Springfield, and Peggy Boyer Long, editor of Illinois Issues magazine published by the University of Illinois at Springfield. After thoughtful sniffing, sipping and savoring, their choice was, appropriately enough, the water distributed by Illinois American Water Co.'s Champaign division.

New Chief for Bureau of Water

Appointment of Nebraska woman effective May 16.

Marcia Willhite will become chief of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Bureau of Water effective May 16, Illinois EPA Director Tom Skinner has announced.

Marcia Willhite

"Marcia's wide-ranging environmental background and experience dealing with the environmental and regulated communities should be of great value to the Agency, not only on water-related matters, but also as we face the increasing number of multi-media issues," Director Skinner said.

Willhite is assistant chief of the Environmental Health Division of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has been with that agency since November 1993. She also is national president of the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials. Previously Willhite was an environmental toxicologist with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and a sanitarian with the Bell County Health Department in Temple, Texas.

She earned a B.S. degree in wildlife biology from Eastern Kentucky University and an M.S. in toxicology from the University of Kentucky.

Willhite suceeds Bureau of Water Chief James Park, who retired as bureau chief at the end of 2000 after 29 years with Illinois EPA. Illinois EPA Deputy Director Bernie Killian served as acting bureau chief during the interim period.

Illinois EPA primarily operates through three Bureaus -- Air, Land and Water. The Bureau of Water has about 330 employees and administers a variety of state and federal programs and initiatives to protect and enhance the quality of Illinois' water resources and public water supplies.