Illinois EPA Manager Honored As Drinking Water "Hero"

Springfield, Ill. -- Rick Cobb, manager of the groundwater and source water programs for the Illinois EPA, was one of seven national "drinking water heroes" honored during a recent Washington, D.C., program marking the 25th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The SDWA, passed in 1974, was the federal law ensuring quality of American's drinking water.

To mark the anniversary, U.S. EPA sponsored a Futures Forum in Washington on Thursday, Dec.16, to recognize achievements to date in providing U.S. residents with some of the safest drinking water in the world, and to address future challenges in continuing this accomplishment.

Among those attending the forum were representatives of states, tribes, local governments, public interest groups and the general public, all of whom have worked in partnership with U.S. EPA to develop the current strong regulatory and enforcement programs for drinking water. Following daylong discussion of issues including drinking water costs, innovative water treatment technologies, drinking water sources, small water systems, drinking water research and public information and involvement, the forum wrapped up with a dinner at which U.S. EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner was a chief speaker.

The seven recipients named as "drinking water heroes" were selected to typify the numerous people around the nation who provide excellent service daily in the drinking water community. Honored, in addition to Cobb, were the superintendent of a North Carolina emergency response small system program; a Nebraska teacher; an Ohio city manager; a Texas cotton farmer; the general manager of a Vermont voluntary safe water program, and a community activist representing a Washington, D.C. group.

"This is a well deserved honor not only for Rick Cobb and his dedicated work on behalf of safe and clean drinking water in Illinois but also reflects the efforts of his colleagues at Illinois EPA and our local government partners in protecting groundwater and other drinking water sources," said Illinois EPA Director Tom Skinner.

Cobb has been instrumental in marshaling drinking water and source water data and disseminating it to support both public information and decision making. He was also recognized as a leader in developing the state's comprehensive groundwater protection program and the watershed framework effort, both in Illinois and in other states. He was cited by U.S. EPA for his "creativity, analytic skills and for sharing his expertise with his peers across the country...advancing ground water and source water protection in his own state and nationwide."