DEP Reuse Coordinator Honored for 25 Years of Environmental Stewardship

“Thanks to Dr. York’s efforts reuse has become an integral part of wastewater management and water resource management in Florida,” said DEP Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “This not only protects our current resources, it preserves our future water supplies.”

5S is an exclusive society with chapters all over the country. The Florida Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers was founded in 1956 by David B. Lee to recognize industry professionals for their outstanding, meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty to the Florida Water Environment Association.

The Society inducted Dr. York during the 81st Annual Florida Water Resources Conference in Orlando. He was recognized for his efforts to encourage and promote water reuse and conservation in Florida and throughout the world.

“David is a consummate professional and a treasured public servant,” said Mimi Drew, Director of DEP’s Division of Water Resource Management. “He is the primary architect of Florida’s internationally recognized reuse program and Florida’s leadership in reuse is directly attributable to his creative and tireless efforts.”

Dr. York has been DEP’s Water Reuse Coordinator since the start of Florida’s reuse program in the mid 1980s. He has worked at DEP for more than 25 years and his career in water reuse and environmental management spans more than 30 years.

Dr. York holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, an M.S. in Sanitary Engineering from the University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Systems Engineering from Clemson University. He is a member of the Water Environment Federation's Water Reuse Committee, Vice-Chair of the Florida Water Environment Association's Water Reuse Committee, Chair of Florida’s Reuse Coordinating Committee, and a member of the National Water Research Institute’s Research Advisory Board.

More than 40% of the domestic wastewater in Florida is now highly treated and used for beneficial purposes, like irrigation, ground water recharge, and industrial cooling water. For more about Florida’s award winning reuse program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/water/reuse.