News Releases - 1998

Top Professional Awards to Three Water Plant Operators

Springfield, Ill. -- Three Illinois drinking water plant operators have been honored for their work by the Illinois Potable Water Supply Operators Association (IPWSOA). The professional organization each year selects an "Operator of the Year" in groundwater, surface water and distribution categories, from operators serving nearly 1,800 public water supplies in the state. Nearly 1,000 members and guests attended the annual event.

Selected for recognition in 1998 were Thomas J. Weathers, operator of the Glencoe water treatment plant, in the surface water category; Jeff Tumiati, Stonington, for supplies using groundwater, and Michael E. Rucker, Hoffman Eastes, in the distribution category.

Operator of the Year is the highest professional honor operators can receive in recognition of service and performance in the waterworks industry. Two runners-up are usually recognized in each division as well.

This year's runners-up were Greg Montague, of the Bloomington public water supply, and Dwayne Lowry, water quality specialist with the Illinois American Water Co. operation serving the Alton area, surface water category; Darrell D. Swanson, Geneseo, and Robert Garcia, Lindenhurst, groundwater category; and Michael Govreau, Glen Carbon, and David A. Snow, Virden, in the distribution division.

Honorees were recognized and presented with trophies during ceremonies at the 67th annual IPWSOA conference in Springfield Thursday (Sept. 17). The conference is co-sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates public water supplies in the state.

Weathers oversees operations of a water treatment plant that supplies drinking water from Lake Michigan to nearly 10,000 people through 50 miles of mains. The Glencoe supply feeds potassium permanganate at its intakes for taste and odor control, has installed a chemical feed line to combat zebra mussel infestation and despite its size was the first plant on Lake Michigan to use polyphosphate for lead corrosion control.

Tumiati and a staff of two operate a water system pumping 90,000 gallons a day to 450 service connections, operates the village waste treatment plant, maintains 16 miles of streets and ditches, and operates the village's natural gas system. He also serves as park board president, is a volunteer fireman and a Master Mason, and serves as contract water operator for the village of Tovey. He has been an operator for 10 years.

Rucker, who resides in Rolling Meadows, is responsible for a distribution system that handles nearly five million gallons of water daily to serve more than 13,500 service connections.

The conference closed Friday following election of officers. New president is Ray Werner, Highland Park. Other officers include, James Swayze, Carbondale, first vice president; Kim Albers, Illinois American Water Co., Pekin, second vice president; Richard Alwood, Bloomington, third vice president; Darrell Swanson, Geneseo, treasurer, and Larry Coloni, Forsyth, secretary.