Topekan Al Hermsen has spent the past 20 years working to ensure that
tap water throughout the nation is safe to drink.Topekan's influence on water industry is clear
By Jonna Lorenz
The Topeka Capital-Journal
Topekan Al Hermsen has spent the past 20 years working to ensure that
tap water throughout the nation is safe to drink.
Whether writing sections of the national plumbing code or training mechanics and water department personnel, Hermsen's focus has been to improve water quality by preventing backflow.
When a water system experiences a loss in pressure, water and contaminants can be pulled back into the system, Hermsen explained. He told of homeowners in Ohio who found sparkling burgundy in their tap ater when the alcohol from a nearby winery was pulled into the water system. Many people don't understand how serious backflow problems are, Hermsen said. Pesticides and other contaminants can be pulled into water systems from lawns, and Hermsen said that years ago antifreeze got into the water system at a hospital, killing several patients receiving kidney dialysis.
However, these risks can be eliminated with the proper equipment and backflow prevention programs. Hermsen was at the forefront of a push to get backflow prevention programs in water systems throughout Kansas.
Hermsen, who was the mechanical sanitary inspector for Topeka from 1978 to 1988, developed a backflow prevention procedure for Topeka and helped the Kansas Rural Water Association develop a model program to be used by water systems to develop cross-connection control programs to prevent backflow. Today about 90% of small towns and rural water districts in the state have such programs, Hermsen said.
Hermsen is recognized in cities and water districts throughout the United States for his help with backflow prevention, said Elmer Ronnebaum, general manager of KRWA.
In 1988, Hermsen and his wife, Lisa, formed A-L-H Trainers Inc. Hermsen traveled throughout the western United States providing training of testing, maintenance and repair of backflow prevention devices.
Hermsen retired in January. Even at 71, he said he is sorry to retire, but he has experienced an increased loss of mobility in his shoulders due to polio he suffered with when he was young.
Hermsen received the Conger award during the 32nd annual KRWA Conference and Exhibition in Wichita last month for his significant contributions to the public water supply system. The award, which has only been presented seven or eight times since the association was founded in 1966, is named after Carl Conger, the first president of the board of directors of KRWA.
"It really made me feel good I tell you. When I got it, I couldn't even say 'Thank You,'" Hermsen said.
Copyright 1999 The Topeka Capital-Journal