Connecticut Water’s Steve Melanson Receives NEWWA’s Operator’s Meritorious Service Award

Steve Melanson, Field Services Supervisor for Connecticut Water’s Northern operations recently received the Operator’s Meritorious Service Award from the New England Section of the American Water Works Association (NEWWA). The Operator’s Meritorious Service Award recognizes performance by operators of drinking water utilities.

NEWWA cited Mr. Melanson’s efforts during the tropical storm ‘Irene’ and the October 2011 Nor’easter in making the award. Mr. Melanson was instrumental in Connecticut Water’s response to the storms in Northern Connecticut where it has many small water systems. Overall, Connecticut Water was able to maintain uninterrupted service to more than 99 percent of its customers despite extended power outages, and the customers that were affected had their service restored within a day.

A Connecticut Water employee for 30 years, Mr. Melanson manages the field service team that is responsible for the pumping, treatment, and distribution of the water that Connecticut Water provides to its customers in much of Northern Connecticut. In addition, to his recent recognition, he holds the distinction of being Connecticut’s first recipient of the Kenneth J. Miller Founder’s Award for his volunteer work with Water for People (WFP). WFP is a non-profit organization that builds sustainable water systems in developing countries where safe drinking water is not available.

A resident of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Mr. Melanson is a navy veteran where he was a member of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalions – better known as the Seabees.