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Bossard Receives National Rural Water Association’s Source Water Peer Leadership Award!
The NRWA Peer Leadership Awards program was established to recognize the outstanding efforts of Rural Water Association representatives. Of all the Source Water Specialist across the Nation, Bossard was selected as this year’s winner for his dedication and service to ensuring safe drinking water supplies for future generations. The National Rural Water’s Source Water Program originally started in 2000 as a pilot program in just 10 states. Bossard joined New York Rural Water Association when it received its source water protection grant from EPA and NRWA in 2002. Through program year 2005, Bossard has completed ten source water plans protecting 35 public water supplies serving roughly 53,000 people. His protection plans are a compilation of regulatory (land use regulations) and non-regulatory measures (educational materials, outreach projects, and best management practices). In addition to putting together protection programs, Bossard has assisted four communities with grant applications- an invasive species eradication grant, funds for storm water retrofits, seed money for an onsite wastewater management program, and a meter reading upgrade project. NYRWA is proud that Bossard has been successful in getting the public involved with large-scale outreach projects. Two examples of these outreach projects are: 1) working with local boy scout troops and Allegany Public Works Department to clean debris along the Genesee River (for the Village of Wellsville), 2) creation of the Steele Creek Watershed Agricultural Committee (for the Village of Ilion) which has proven (through stream sampling) to improve water quality over the last two years. Bossard currently lives in Geneva, New York with his wife, Amy, his four-year-old son, Parker, and two year old daughter, Emma. He received a B.S. in Biology and Water Resources at the State University of New York- College at Brockport. Prior to working with NYRWA, Bossard was employed with Cornell University and Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District. The National Rural Water Association is a federation of 48 State Rural Water Associations serving over 24,558 water and wastewater utility members in 49 states with additional programs in Honduras and Puerto Rico. NRWA members form a solid foundation for Team Rural Water. Upholding the motto of “Quality On Tap!” Rural Water Associations provide small communities in every state with management and technical resources to supply safe and affordable water.
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6/23/2006
Photo: Josh Bossard (right) receives the 2006 Peer Leadership Award from Pepper Herman (left) the 2004 Peer Leadership recipient.
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Josh
Bossard, EPA Source Water Specialist for New York Rural Water
Association, received highest honors from her peers when he was named
the 2006 EPA Source Water Specialist Peer Leader of the Year. Peer
Leadership Awards were presented at NRWA’s 20th Annual
In-Service Training Seminar held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 