Washington Works

Helping communities solve water problems

Most people don’t think much about clean drinking water. They just turn on their faucet and it’s there. But there is a lot of work that goes into making sure drinking water is safe and reliable. When the state Health Department offered Arkansas native Tom Justus a job in its Office of Drinking Water, he thought it would be good experience for awhile. “Awhile” has lasted 37 years.

Tom’s work has touched the lives of people throughout Washington. He is an expert at finding ways to help communities turn bad water into good. A civil engineer with a master’s in public health, Tom’s firm belief is that the role of government is to solve people’s problems. “Helping people—that’s the fun part of the job,” Tom said.

There are nearly 17,000 public drinking water systems in Washington, serving everything from a few homes to large cities. From providing technical assistance during water system inspections to helping water systems plan for the future, staff like Tom Justus help drinking water providers meet their responsibilities by providing clean and safe water.

When Tom helps a community improve its water system, he becomes a resident-consultant—attending city council and water association meetings, scouting financial resources, helping with grant applications, and offering problem-solving advice.

Last fall, Tom’s fellow employees nominated him for the first “Drinking Water Director’s Award” and gave him a standing ovation to recognize his significant contributions to public health.

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