Water expert honoured for pure purpose

Semi-retired ex Coliban Water executive and water quality specialist David Sheehan has been awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) in the King’s Birthday Honours for outstanding public service in strengthening drinking water safety and public health protection.

Sheehan spent 12 years in senior roles at Coliban after working at the Victorian Department of Health for almost a decade, where he oversaw the roll-out of Victoria’s Safe Drinking Water Act (2003).

His contribution to drinking water safety, regulation and public health in Victoria and Australia, as well as internationally, is considered to have shaped world-leading approaches that continue to protect communities every day.

For example, he was involved in World Health Organisation guidance and capacity-building initiatives in the Asia Pacific and Africa, and also contributed to forming a partnership with Vietnam to support the modernisation of water treatment in Viet Tri City.

Sheehan said he has been reflecting a lot since he found out he had been nominated for a PSM.

“Like most people, you go to work, you try to do something meaningful and make a difference, but you don’t go there looking for recognition typically,” he said.

“The fact that enough people thought that I’d done enough and contributed enough to be able to be recognised in this way feels like a great honour.

“Like a lot of things in life, you also don’t do it on your own.

“The individual gets recognised, but there’s plenty of people that help you along the way – it’s the support of others that helps you shine really.”

The water microbiologist by training and 40-year industry veteran said one of the reasons he has liked working in the water industry is that it’s all publicly owned.

“We’re not there for a shareholder, we’re not there to make a profit, you’re there to make sure the community’s safe,” he said.

“We can drink the water that comes out of our taps in Australia, and about two billion people in the world don’t have that privilege.

“The fact that we can work in the background and make that happen on a consistent basis is great.”