Erie County Water Authority Names Sabrina Figler new Director of Water Quality

In this new role, Figler is responsible for maintaining ECWA's compliance with all federal and state drinking water regulations, which is accomplished through daily, quarterly, and annual monitoring and regular reporting to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State and Erie County health departments. ECWA conducts sampling 24 hours, 365 days a year and performs more than 70,000 tests annually to make sure all federal and state standards for drinking water quality are met.

"We are very pleased to promote such an experienced and well qualified employee as Sabrina Figler," said ECWA Chairman Jerome Schad. "ECWA has a highly respected water quality program among our peers in the industry, and Sabrina is the right person to lead our program into the future."

Figler will oversee ECWA's responses to any emergency incidents and other natural disasters that may cause an adverse impact on water quality or disruptions in service. She will also be responsible for testing ECWA storage tanks and distribution system after routine disinfection and cleaning and monitor interconnections between ECWA's municipal partners.

"I'm honored to be named ECWA's director of water quality, a department I have worked in for 25 years," said Figler. "I look forward to continuing the department's long tradition of excellence that has been established by my predecessors and colleagues and assuring our customers are receiving safe, high quality drinking water."

Figler most recently served as Environmental Microbiology Technician. She is an internationally recognized expert on zebra mussel macrofouling and taste and odor in the Great Lakes. She graduated magna cum laude from Buffalo State College, where she received a bachelor's degree in biology.

She currently resides in Hamburg with her husband and two children.