Former SIRWA manager placed into water hall of fame

The Iowa Rural Water Association (IRWA) said Dan McIntosh formerly of the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association has been inducted into the IRWA Hall of Fame. McIntosh was presented this honor during the Iowa Rural Water Association’s 47th Annual Conference held at the Veteran’s Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center Feb. 21-23 in Des Moines.

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to IRWA either legislatively or in other capacities such as service to the IRWA Board and or active participation in IRWA committees and other functions. He had been employed at Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA) since 1989. After 31 years of service at Southern Iowa Rural Water Association he retired Jan. 1.

Before coming to work for SIRWA, he was co-owner of an underground construction company which installed water and sewer lines, excavated basements and installed field tile. This experience was very beneficial when he started with SIRWA. Over the years, McIntosh has also attended many training seminars to further his knowledge on a wide variety of subjects.

During his tenure at SIRWA, Dan has held several titles including meter reader, field tech, operations manager, projects manager and assistant manager. For the last 14 years, he had been the SIRWA General Manager.

When he began his employment with SIRWA, the association had 600 water customers. Today, SIRWA’s customer base includes more than 11,000 water service customers, as well as 1,300 wastewater customers.

Always a progressive thinker, he kept SIRWA on the forefront of expansion and system upgrades, always with the SIRWA customer base in mind. His most esteemed accomplishment was the vision for SIRWA to own and operate their own water treatment plant. After many years of discussion and planning construction of the SIRWA water treatment plant and related infrastructure upgrades began in October 2021.

McIntosh holds Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) licenses in water treatment, water distribution and wastewater treatment. He is a member of the Iowa On-Site Wastewater Association and sits on the board of directors for both the Iowa Watershed Association and the Iowa Rural Water Association. McIntosh didn’t just serve on the Iowa Rural Water Board; he was always an active participant serving two years as president and several more as vice president. He frequently attended the NRWA Water Rally in Washington D.C. and Water Day at the Capital in Des Moines to tell the industry story to all that would listen.

SIRWA, located in southwest Iowa, has a very limited water supply from underground aquifers. For this reason, McIntosh sits on the board of directors for the Clarke County Reservoir, which is in the process of trying to build a reservoir in Clarke County for water supply as well as recreation.

He has lived his entire life in Southwest Iowa. He and his wife, Angie, have two grown children and two grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, bicycling, camping four wheeling and riding dirt bikes.