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Recognizing and honoring Debra A. McCarty, on the occasion of her retirement as Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department, for her decades of service to the City, citizens, and waterways of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Debra A. McCarty now concludes her tenure as Commissioner of Philadelphia Water Department, after over 37 years of service; and
WHEREAS, Ms. McCarty received her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and thereafter moved to Lancaster, PA to pursue a career in consulting engineering, always intending to return to her native Baltimore; and
WHEREAS, Instead, Ms. McCarty moved to Philadelphia in 1982, for what she intended to be brief employment with the Water Department, started in the Civil Service System as a graduate civil engineer at the Department's Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant, and progressively attained management roles of increasing responsibility; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, Ms. McCarty was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner and Director of Operations for the Water Department, with responsibilities including oversight of the operation and maintenance of three drinking water treatment plants, three wastewater treatment plants and contract operations of a biosolids facility, as well as oversaw the operation and maintenance of the 3,200 miles of water mains, 3,500 miles of sewers, 79,000 inlets, 25,000 fire hydrants and various pumping stations throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, McCarty has additionally served on numerous boards, including her current role as president of her neighborhood civic association. When she can, she also enjoys biking or hiking with her dog in Fairmount Park, attending cultural activities in Philadelphia, purchasing fresh produce from local farmers at the Reading Terminal Market and Clark Park, and gardening; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, incoming Mayor Kenney appointed her to be the first woman to serve as Water Commissioner in the over two centuries of the Departme...
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