Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Donald R. Froelich who will retire from the City of Glendale's Department of Water and Power after 13 years of service to the city and community as Water Service Administrator.
Donald R. Froelich graduated from the University of Southern California in 1963 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He continued his studies and received a Masters in Civil Engineering in 1967. He also received a certificate for Executive Management in 1988. Among his exemplary list of educational achievements is also an engineering license. In addition, Mr. Froelich is a distinguished member of the California Bar.
While Mr. Froelich was vice-president of the Board of Directors of the Castaic Lake Water Agency, he held great responsibility for supplying State Project Water to the Santa Clarita Valley. Donald worked for the Metropolitan Water District for 24 years. He was responsible for water supply and demand, planning activities, and identifying the need for additional facilities to ensure that Metropolitan could provide adequate water to the growing communities of its member agencies.
In September of 1990, Donald arrived at the City of Glendale to work for Water & Power as Water Service Administrator. He was dedicated to managing the activities of the Water Department that dealt with finances, construction, operation and maintenance of the City's water system.
Donald Froelich's accomplishments have been numerous. In 1996, he received the California Water Reuse Association Project of the Year Award. Notably, he implemented a regional recycled water program with the cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles. He worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Health Services. He planned and implemented a pivotal Superfund groundwater cleanup project in an attempt to clear up the San Fernando Basin of volatile organic chemicals used by the neighboring industries as degreasers. Lately, Donald spearheaded the Chromium 6 research project where he worked with the cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, San Fernando and regulatory agencies to identify the best technology for removing Chromium 6 from drinking water supplies. He made this possible by dedicating his efforts to obtain Congressional funding for the project with my office and that of Senator Barbara Boxer.
I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in congratulating Donald R. Froelich on a truly exemplary professional and public service career, and for his immense commitment to the City of Glendale and surrounding communities.