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Fellow Profile
LINDA TSANG
 Linda Tsang, ELP Fellow 2001-2003, is an environmental engineer in the Municipal Assistance Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Region where she works with state governments to implement Safe Drinking Water regulations.
What types of projects do you work on at EPA?
Here at EPA Region 1 New England, I work on a set of regulations in the Safe Drinking Water Act called "microbial disinfectant byproduct regulations." Disinfectants like chlorine that are used to treat drinking water react with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter present in water, forming chemicals called disinfectant byproducts. These byproducts, such as trihalomethanes, are a health concern at certain levels of exposure. EPA regulations aim to control the level of disinfectant byproducts in drinking water by setting standards for public water systems. I work closely with the New England States to help them implement these new regulations, trying my best to make regulations sound like English -- instead of a foreign language. My job includes training local and state government officials on how these rules affect their operations and serving as a regulation and technical resource for the States.
Currently, I am working on distributing over $7 million in grant money to train and certify small systems drinking water operators. As we are well aware, security of our drinking water became a priority after September 11th. The first line of protection is having operators that are well trained to maintain a high standard of safe drinking water and respond properly to any threats to public health.
What do you see as some of the opportunities and challenges facing the environmental field?
After September 11th, the importance of access to clean and safe drinking water became even more evident. Countries where access to safe drinking water is limited due to lack of infrastructure face serious public health problems, especially in low income communities. An estimated 1.3 billion people in the world's least developed countries do not have clean drinking water, and approximately 6 million children die each year from drinking contaminated water. Several studies have linked early economic growth and success to access to clean sources of water for industrial and agricultural uses. Unfortunately, as demand and competition for funds from groups like the World Bank increase, governments in many developing nations cannot afford to pay for the infrastructure necessary to make safe drinking water available.
 One great opportunity is to transfer innovative technology and knowledge of drinking water protection and sanitation methods to those countries that need it. This would assist the development of sustainable drinking water infrastructures; promote improved public health; and foster growing industries in developing nations. A global commitment and effort is necessary in order to ensure safe and clean drinking water to all. Organizations like the World Health Organization, the United Nations, NGOs, and groups around the world are tackling this complex problem from engineering, science, economic, political and social perspectives. There are on-going debates on the globalization of water and the impacts of making water a market commodity. We still need to understand the future implications and consequences of using water as a commodity good, and devise solutions that can effectively, equitably, and adequately serve human and environmental needs.
How have your previous experiences informed your work at EPA?
Prior to joining the EPA, I worked with the Alliance for Environmental Innovation, a project of Environmental Defense, on improving environmental performance of product and packaging manufacturing processes with major corporations. Our project development included linking the improved environmental performance of a company with its shareholder value and a healthy bottom line. Putting environmental performance in context with how corporations defined success was one of the key ingredients to a successful partnership. Now, as a regulator, I see that, similarly, putting regulations in the proper context helps the public understand the importance of regulations and their role in public health protection.
My other experiences in the environmental field have included working on pollution prevention at Weyerhaeuser Company and developing environmental curriculums for colleges. Each of my viewpoints in the environmental movement has shown me that there are always more perspectives to see and to understand.
The most important thing I have learned is that any environmental issue is a personal issue. Beyond all the engineering, science and policy, the question that matters the most is: "How does this environmental issue affect you?" True understanding and motivation to take action comes from people feeling that their personal lives are being affected and that they can be part of the solution.
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