SECTION NEWS
The Water Industry Loses Empathic Leader and Stalwart Friend
By Kate Nutting
CA-NV AWWA Vice Chair
Chet Auckly’s legacy will live on in the people he inspired and those who learned from him.
THE CALIFORNIA-NEVADA
www.ca-nv-awwa.org 9
water community is mourn-ing
the loss of Chet Auckly
who passed away on June 6,
2017, surrounded by family and
friends. He was 70 years old.
Chet served as 1998-99 Cali-fornia-
Nevada Section Chair and
was a member of the AWWA
Governing Board from 2002
to 2005. He volunteered on
countless AWWA committees,
including the Administrative
and Policy Council (2000-2003)
and as chair of the Conference
Management Committee from
2000 to 2003. After retirement he developed and taught classes
for AWWA with his wife Kathleen, both avid Water for People
supporters, at the Section and Association levels.
Chet began his 37-year career as a laboratory director and/
or chemist at several water reclamation facilities and worked
as a registered environmental health specialist for the Santa
Barbara County Department of Public Health and spent the bulk
of his career at Sierra Pacific Power Company and California
Water Service (Cal Water), where he served as Director of Water
Quality and Environmental Affairs until his retirement in 2013.
Having joined Cal Water at a time when major water quality
improvements were needed to keep pace with the changing
regulatory environment, Chet addressed this challenge with
professionalism, boundless energy, and infectious good humor,
bringing a new level of professionalism and respect to the water
quality department.
Chet was also active in the two consulting companies he
established, Scientists for Environmental Excellence, LLC, which
supplied the highest quality guidance and technical support to
drinking water and water reclamation facilities at a reasonable
cost, and Auckly Consulting, LLC, which focused on providing
public health expertise, regulatory compliance planning, water
treatment problem solving, and training. These companies
were his passion, particularly because he was able to work with
Kathleen, also a scientist.
Chet was committed to sharing his knowledge and expertise
and encouraged the people he managed to pursue lifetime
learning. He held bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry,
a Master of Science in environmental engineering, and an
associate’s degree in physical science and math, plus American
Management Association 5 Day MBA focusing on leadership,
budgeting, and business administration. He also held a Nevada
Water Treatment Operator Grade T-4 Certification.
Chet was a humble and gracious man who inspired
greatness in those around him and found more joy in the success
of those he mentored than his
own accomplishments. He had a
particular ability to help people
recognize their strengths and
inspire them to take risks to
achieve their potential. He was
particularly supportive of young
people and women and cared
deeply about the people with
whom he worked.
Chet was honored with the
CA-NV AWWA George A. Elliott
Memorial Award in 1998 and the
George W. Fuller Award in 2000,
the Water for People Kenneth J.
Miller Founders’ Award in 2009,
Increasing knowledge and
understanding of the com-plexity
of the drinking water
field will build confidence for
decision making, enable better
communications with cus-tomers,
and create a greater
kinship with other drinking
water professionals.
—Chet Auckly
and the Walter O. Weight Membership Award in 2010 and was
named an Honorary Member of AWWA in 2007. He is survived
by Kathleen, his four daughters, three grandchildren, and the
countless water professionals who were lucky enough to have
known him. S
