The City of Evanston is proud to announce that Water Production Bureau Chief Darrell King has been named the Illinois Sector American Water Works Association (ISAWWA) Water Professional of the Year.
The award recognizes an Illinois water professional who has demonstrated dedication and motivation throughout a career in the water works industry. King will be honored at the annual ISAWWA WATERCON conference on March 21 in Springfield.
King has served as the City of Evanston’s water production bureau chief since 2015, where he leads production and distribution of high-quality, reliable drinking water to nearly 500,000 people and 60,000 businesses in Evanston and nine other communities. In this role, King also oversees the City’s utility billing and sewer systems.
“Congratulations to Darrell on this outstanding and well deserved recognition,” said City Manager Luke Stowe. “Darrell has dedicated his career to providing residents of Evanston and Illinois with safe, reliable drinking water, while at the same time connecting young people with rewarding careers in water production. I am proud to have Darrell as a member of our team.”
Since 2015, King has helped water utilities throughout Illinois develop “Water Operator In Training” programs, providing high school students with an opportunity to earn course credit while gaining hands-on experience in the field of water production. The City of Evanston and ETHS launched an Evanston OIT program in 2017.
King has been a member of the Illinois Section American Water Works Association (ISAWWA) for more than 15 years and currently serves on the ISAWWA Outreach Committee. Prior to his service in Evanston, King held positions with the City of North Chicago and the Village of Oak Park.
For more information, please call/text 847-448-4311 or simply dial 311 in Evanston.
About the ISAWWA
The Illinois Section AWWA provides resources for the advocacy of safe and sustainable water through enriching membership, mentoring, and increasing public awareness. Learn more at isawwa.org.