Welcome to Skagit County

May 8th, 2008

Parent wins “Friend of Drinking Water” award from Washington State Department of Health
“Drinking water heroes were leaders when it counted”

SKAGIT COUNTY – Skagit County’s Public Health Department now has a “drinking water hero” for showing leadership when it counts. Today, at 4:00 p.m. Lorna Parent, environmental health specialist received the “Friend of Drinking Water” award from the Washington State Department of Health in the Skagit County Board of Commissioners Hearing Room. The award was presented by the state’s Deputy Director of Field Operations Jared Davis. A reception honoring Parent was held at 3:30 p.m. prior to the award ceremony. More than 50 co-workers and peers attended the ceremony.

For more than 20 years, Parent has helped communities such as Rockport, Big Lake and Marblemount obtain safe, reliable drinking water. Her efforts to get access to drinking water data for local health departments contributed to the development of the state Department of Health’s drinking water internet data base.

“There is nothing more important to public health than safe drinking water,” said Davis.

“This a great honor for both Lorna and Skagit County,” said Skagit County Health Department Director Peter Browning. “Lorna has gone above and beyond to assure Skagit County residents have clean drinking water.”

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award. There are many worthy local health department people that could have received this award,” said Parent. “I believe in patience and persistence: if it is the right thing and we keep saying it to everyone whenever we can, it will happen”

Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire has proclaimed May 4-10, 2008 as “Drinking Water Week in Washington.”

For further information, contact: Dan Berentson

Communications Director

360-419-3461

Photo cutline: Lorna Parent receives a “Friend of Drinking Water” award from Deputy Director of Field Operations Jared Davis.