Politics & Government

Lacey Man Honored with Environmental Quality Award

Richard Howlett of the New Jersey Water Association was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a 2012 Environmental Quality Award recipient

A Lanoka Harbor resident will receiving the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) 2012 Environmental Quality Award for his efforts in protecting and enhancing environmental quality and public health.

Richard Howlett, a 14-year Lacey resident and director of the New Jersey Water Association (NJWA) based in Waretown, will receive the highest recognition by the EPA for his work with the company.

“The NJWA is a great organization—we do everything we can to ensure high quality drinking water, and to protect New Jersey’s water resources,” Howlett said in an email.

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The non-profit only staffs five people but is a state-wide organization that provides a variety of services to companies that provide drinking water and treat wastewater.

The NJWA travels throughout the state daily to provide professional education and technical assistance to those companies, he said.

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“It’s important that we do so because water is really the lifeblood of any community,” Howlett said. “Without clean, safe, reliable water services in our homes, hospitals, businesses and schools our communities can’t prosper.  It’s hard to imagine what would happen to our towns and cities if these vital services failed.  Our industry works hard to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

The water and wastewater infrastructure is old and past due for replacement, Howlett explained.

“Enough water leaks from aging water pipes in the U.S. each day to supply all of the residents of any of 30 states,” he said. “The NJWA tries to address that problem by helping utilities to get much-needed funding to replace worn-out facilities, equipment and underground pipes.”

Although water infrastructure is expensive, bottled water costs 3,000 times as much, Howlett said.

The organization educates community leaders, develops Vulnerability Assessments to help utilities secure their facilities, locate water lines and find leaks to prevent water loss, help water and wastewater operators comply with the Safe Drinking Water and the Clean Act and work with utilities to develop emergency response plans.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of the New Jersey Water Association’s board, staff and members,” Howlett said. “Our staff and members are mindful of the fact that their families drink, cook with, and bathe in tap water, so it’s only natural that they ensure the water is safe and clean.”

Each year the EPA awards individuals and organizations that contribute to improving the environment in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally recognized Indian Nations.

Award recipients come from all sectors of the community including businesses, non-profits, environmental and community groups, individual citizens and environmental educators, said Judith Enck, Regional Administrator, in a letter.

The awards recognize achievement in six categories: business and industry; individual citizen; non-profit organization or an environmental or community group; environmental education, federal, state, local or tribal government or agency and the press and media.

The EPA declined to comment until winners are officially announced on Friday, April 27.

"What better way to mark the annual celebration of Earth Day than by honoring those organizations and individuals whose work has preserved and restored the environment and improved public health,” EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck said in January. “The achievements and dedication of each year’s Environmental Quality Award winners are an inspiration to us all. ”

Howlett will receive the award along with other winners at a ceremony on April 27.


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