FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2004
Contact:
Walt Baker, Division of Water Quality, (801) 538-6088
(Salt Lake City, Utah) - Walter L. Baker, manager of the Engineering and Water Quality Management Branch in the Utah Division of Water Quality, received the Water Environment Association of Utah’s Grant K. Borg Extraordinary Service Award, which recognizes long-term commitment and achievement in the area of water quality improvement in Utah. Baker joins 11 leaders in the field of water environment who have received the award since it was implemented in 1983.
“This award is a tremendous and humbling honor,” Baker said. “Grant Borg is known in the circle of water quality professionals as a giant. It’s humbling to have my name in the same sentence as his.”
As a civil and environmental engineer and Division of Water Quality branch manager, Baker’s responsibilities include overseeing loans and grants for wastewater infrastructure; administering Utah’s water quality standards and clean lakes program; and overseeing the certification program for the state’s wastewater facilities operators.
Baker recently completed a term as chair of the national advisory board for the State Revolving Fund program. In 1988, he was instrumental in developing the federal wastewater loan program in Utah, which became one of the first states to implement it. Under his direction, nearly $300 million has been provided for wastewater treatment and collection systems throughout the state. More than 140 projects in Utah have been constructed through this program.
During a term as president of the Water Environment Association of Utah, Baker oversaw programs for water environment education and planning and heightened emphasis on wastewater re-use. He is a past recipient of the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award, given by the national Water Environment Federation for extraordinary service in the area of water environment leadership. Baker resides in Centerville, Utah with his wife, Celia R. Baker. They are the parents of three daughters.