SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 20, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah Department of Environmental Quality executive director Alan Matheson has appointed Marie Owens as the director of Drinking Water, a division of DEQ.
Owens replaces Ken Bousfield who retired at the end of last year after serving 40 years.
“Marie will be a tremendous asset to DEQ, having 20 years of experience in drinking water and water quality. She has held leadership positions in the American Water Works Association and was the co-founder of Women of Water,” Matheson said in a prepared statement.
“I’m confident she will be a collaborative and effective leader working to protect Utah’s drinking water.”
Owens has been the Water Quality Division Manager for Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District since 2006. During that time she was responsible for developing and implementing groundwater source protection plans and played a key role in the District’s reverse osmosis plant that treats contaminated groundwater and provides drinking water to area residents. She also worked 10 years as process engineer for the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy.
Owens earned a Master of Science, Public Administration at Walden University and an Environmental Engineering degree from Utah State University.
“I’m excited to join DEQ,” she said. “The drinking water industry in Utah is vibrant and full of skilled people, dedicated to protecting public health. I’m committed to continue the legacy of collaboration between regulators, water professionals, and the public to ensure safe and reliable drinking water throughout Utah.”
