Living Water Award 2026 Nominee

Cory Booher

Plant Manager II for the Danville Water Treatment Plant, Aqua Illinois

Cory, Plant Manager II for the Danville Water Treatment Plant with Aqua Illinois, is nominated for his outstanding leadership, community trust-building and dedication to operational and environmental excellence that extends far beyond his daily plant responsibilities. Cory spearheaded the extensive data collection and documentation required for the Danville system, which serves nearly 41,000 customers, to receive the prestigious American Water Works Association (AWWA) Director’s Award. Additionally, during a critical lead testing cycle, Cory navigated sub-zero winter temperatures and holiday schedules to personally connect with residents, building the community trust necessary to dramatically increase testing participation. As both a plant and lake manager, he coordinates annual shoreline cleanups, collaborates with conservation districts on erosion control and regularly hosts regional Illinois Rural Water Association (IRWA) training sessions to foster professional development and best-practice sharing across the water industry.