FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 27, 2004
CONTACT: Dee Ann Miller, (850) 245-2112

DEP Employee Elected Safe Drinking Water
Administrators President

TALLAHASSEE – The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) elected Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) employee Van Hoofnagle as the association’s 2005 president. As president, Hoofnagle will work to strengthen ASDWA’s partnerships with environmental groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other state agencies in the public health and water arena.

“Van’s election reflects his knowledge, experience and commitment to Florida’s drinking water,” said Mimi Drew, DEP’s Director of Water Resource Management. “He is working tirelessly to ensure a safe drinking water supply for millions of Floridians.”

A 24-year DEP veteran, Hoofnagle served the last 13 years as administrator of Florida’s drinking water program. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in sanitary engineering from the University of Virginia. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer with Costa Rica’s National Park Service for two years, and worked as a consulting engineer in Pennsylvania before coming to Florida.

ASDWA is a professional association formed in 1984 to give state drinking water administrators a national presence with Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and professional organizations responsible for drinking water protection. ASDWA keeps Congress apprised of emerging drinking water issues, informs state administrators about drinking water activities across the country, and provides technical training to the states.

Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush, Florida has invested more than $1.8 billion to upgrade drinking water facilities, clean up stormwater pollution and improve wastewater treatment, funding more than 700 projects statewide. Through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, over 120 drinking water projects have received nearly $220 million in the past five years.