AWWA Member Spotlight – Darrell A. King, City of Evanston, Illinois

Darrell A. King is water and sewer superintendent with the City of Evanston, Illinois. He recently received the Illinois Section’s Water Professional of the Year award.

Education: B.S., Biology, Grambling State University; M.S., Clinical Laboratory Science, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Career background: My career in municipal government began during my sophomore year in college through the City of North Chicago’s (my hometown) Summer Earn and Learn Program. I worked in different departments within the city, but never for the water utility. Once I graduated, a friend of mine who worked at the water plant told me about an opening for an assistant microbiologist. I was fortunate to be interviewed and ultimately hired. I eventually was placed in charge of the water quality lab and worked in that role for nine years until I became the interim water and sewer superintendent at my hometown’s water plant with the City of North Chicago. Since then, I have worked with the Village of Oak Park as water & sewer superintendent and the City of Evanston as water production bureau chief. In all, I have worked in the water industry for 26 years.

What interested you about working in the water industry? Initially what interested me most was the science aspect, which was my background. It was also municipal work, to which I had become accustomed, and I saw job security because I realized people required clean drinking water and a sewer system to live a healthy life.

What makes Evanston’s method of producing/distributing drinking water unique? Evanston utilizes conventional water treatment, which is an old but effective method. The process is relatively slow, utilizes very little energy, and produces Safe Drinking Water Act compliant drinking water. The plant was originally built in 1874 to pump two million gallons per day (MGD) of raw water. After a series of upgrades, the plant is the second largest in Illinois with a rated capacity of 108 MGD. What makes the Evanston plant’s method of producing/distributing water unique is how it was expanded through the years and the team that ensures the plant and distribution system are properly operated and maintained to ensure the reliable delivery of drinking water. Our forward-thinking team is very knowledgeable and highly skilled who loves the work, leverages technology, and is active in the industry. Also, Lake Michigan is one of the most abundant, high quality and resilient water sources in the world.

How has the City of Evanston benefited from AWWA resources? AWWA’s benchmarking program gives us a look into performance indicators across the industry, allowing us to properly plan, set goals, and measure ourselves against our peers. We have used AWWA resources in part to develop and enhance our skill sets and expertise.

Please describe Illinois’ Water Operator in Training program. Effective April 1, 2014, a new Operator in Training (OIT) certificate status went into effect. This is the first step to becoming a fully certified drinking water operator in Illinois. An OIT has passed one of the exams (Class A, B, C, or D) for drinking water operator certification and may or may not have met the experience requirement at the time they passed the exam. An OIT certificate is valid six years. Renewal training is not required to maintain certification.

Water utilities and students have benefited from this certification because an individual can qualify to begin the certification process prior to having the experience. This opens a pathway for high school students to become OITs, in some cases receiving academic credit toward their high school graduation requirement). I have joined others in starting OIT programs at local high schools to encourage entry into the drinking water industry. Since 2014, Illinois has had 964 new OITs – growing from 17 in 2014 to 210 in 2022.

Describe your family. I have been married for 24 years to Maria, who is writing her first children’s book. We have two daughters, ages 29 and 22, and a son, 5. We also have a son-in-law and two granddaughters. (Pictured above, King with his family, including wife Maria, daughter Alana, son David, oldest daughter Tori.)

What do you enjoy doing away from work? Spending time with my family and attending professional sporting events (baseball and basketball).

What is something people might be surprised to learn about you? I was once a medical school student and a high school varsity head football coach.