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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2003
Contacts:
Jay Pitkin, Manager of Engineering and Water Quality Management Branch, Division of Water Quality, (801) 538-6146
Don Ostler, Director of Division of Water Quality, (801) 538-6146
(Salt Lake City, Utah) - After 30 years of service in state government, Water Quality Manager and Professional Engineer Jay Pitkin has announced his retirement, effective March 31, 2003.
According to Pitkin, much has changed during the past 30 years. In addition to expected changes in engineering and water quality improvements, Pitkin said he has also seen significant changes in the public's perception of environmental issues.
"When I started working as an environmental engineer, I noticed that environmental issues weren't high on people's priority list. They didn't think about it back then. Today, there is far more interest, far more awareness and far more public involvement," Pitkin said.
Much of that change can be attributed to Pitkin, said Division of Water Quality Director Don Ostler. A hallmark of his career has been his ability to work well with the public, the regulated community, his staff and his colleagues locally and nationally, according to Ostler.
"Jay has always maintained himself in a highly professional manner while managing the issues we deal with in water quality," Ostler said. "He's been an example of someone who is technically well qualified and who embodies excellent judgment in making decisions."
Pitkin said that he has been fortunate to work with good people who are professional and who want to do the right thing for the environment and public health. "We've been successful in the face of many challenges because of our commitment to environmental protection and the citizens of the state."
Highly respected for his professionalism and engineering skills, Pitkin has played a critical role in making policy and taking action to improve the quality of water in Utah. His legacy includes developing water quality standards that are reasonable, protective and understandable; helping to pass a requirement that operators of sewage treatment plants be certified; and developing wastewater reuse regulations.
Pitkin has served in a number of leadership positions throughout his career. For the past 20 years, he has been chairman of the Jordanelle/Deer Creek Technical Advisory Committee, which works to improve the water quality of Deer Creek and preserve the high water quality of Jordanelle. In 1981, Pitkin served as the president of the Water Environment Association of Utah and afterward as the local association liaison to the national Water Environment Federation for three years. Since 1987, he has held an appointment by the governor to be one of two Utah representatives to the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum. As a member of this group, he has worked on projects to reduce salinity (salt) in the Colorado River Basin to benefit water users in Utah, Arizona, California and Mexico.
Originally from Logan, Utah, Pitkin earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1967 and a master's degree in environmental engineering in 1968 from Utah State University. He worked as an engineer in California and Oregon before signing on with the State of Utah in 1973 as a public health engineer in the area of water quality. In 1977, Pitkin became an assistant to the state water quality director. In 1987, he was promoted to manager of the Engineering and Water Quality Management Branch.
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