SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/05/12 -- The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today presented its seventh annual Emissary Award to Chet Anderson, a longtime leader in water quality issues whose involvement with the association spans more than 20 years. Presented at ACWA's 2012 Fall Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, the award recognizes individuals for remarkable contributions to California water by supporting and advancing ACWA's goals.

"ACWA's Emissary Award is our way of paying tribute to the members who have guided this association and contributed to our successes over the years," said ACWA President Randy Record. "Chet Anderson is a prime example of a member whose commitment, hard work and expertise have made a tremendous difference. We owe a debt of gratitude to Chet for his years of leadership and his unwavering support for ACWA and its statewide interests."

Anderson, who has chaired ACWA's Safe Drinking Water Subcommittee since 1994, has worked tirelessly to achieve ACWA's goal of reasonable and effective drinking water regulations. Anderson has played a key role in developing ACWA's input on every proposed California and federal drinking water regulation since he took the helm of the subcommittee 18 years ago. More specifically, Anderson provided significant contributions to the 1996 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Anderson worked for 30 years for the California Department of Health Services Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management. He was a principal engineer and manager with the legislative and regulatory branch of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's Division of Water Quality. He also has served as a consultant to drinking water utilities throughout the state on water quality issues.

In addition to serving as chair of ACWA's Drinking Water Subcommittee, Anderson has been a member of the Water Quality Committee and has served on workgroups on arsenic, radon, surface water treatment, public notification, waterworks standards, fluoridation, MTBE, perchlorate, public health goals and others.

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 440 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.