NHDES presents source water protection awards

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) recently presented several awards at its annual Source Water Protection Conference on May 16, 2023. This year’s recipients recognized for their exemplary efforts to protect our drinking water resources included the City of Portsmouth as well as Mr. Arik Jones, Superintendent of the Rye Water District, and the Town of Rye.

The 2023 Source Water Protection Award was presented to Portsmouth for the city’s multi-year effort to protect high-priority water supply lands around the Bellamy Reservoir. This effort stands out as a model in terms of protecting critical water supply lands that serve to protect the reservoir, a primary source of drinking water for the city. The award was received by Brian Goetz, the city’s Public Works Director; Allan Pratt, Water Resources Manager; and Suzanne Woodland, Deputy City Manager/Deputy City Attorney.

The 2023 Source Sustainability Award, recognizing work to conserve water through reducing water use or waste, was presented to both Mr. Arik Jones, Superintendent of the Rye Water District and the Town of Rye, which was received by Becky Bergeron, Assistant Town Administrator (Rye), on behalf of the town. In 2021, Mr. Jones played an instrumental role in defining the impact large water users were having on the water system’s wells during state-declared drought. He then worked with users, including irrigation companies, to reduce water demand significantly. In 2022, Ms. Bergeron worked with the Rye Board of Selectman to adopt a town-wide lawn watering restriction bylaw that restricts lawn watering, depending on the severity of the drought.   

For more information about the NHDES Source Water Protection Program, please contact Pierce Rigrod, NHDES Drinking Water and Groundwater Supervisor at pierce.a.laskey-rigrod@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-0688.