Earlier this year Janine Burke, executive director of the Warwick Sewer Authority, received the Alfred E. Peloquin Award from the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA). At last week’s sewer authority meeting there was a ceremony to recognize Burke’s accomplishment.

NEWEA is a volunteer organization made up of 2,100 wastewater professionals, all of which are motivated to protect the water environment throughout New England.

The Peloquin award, which began in 1990, is given to one member from each of the six member states. The award goes to individuals whose service has “contributed to excellence in plant operations either directly at a treatment plant, or indirectly through assistance to plant operations personnel,” according to the NEWEA website.

Burke was presented the award at the 2015 Annual NEWEA conference in Boston on Jan. 28.

“It was very humbling to receive the award because that’s not why we do it,” Burke said.

Mayor Scott Avedisian thanked Burke for her continued dedication to the city and all the work she has done.

He said, “There are always going to be days when you need to make tough decisions, but the decisions Janine makes every day are always in the best interest of this city.”

Scott Goodinson, safety coordinator at the plant, said, “This award is long overdue for Janine. It has always been a pleasure to work with her and her professionalism is outstanding.”

He said that the award was a long time coming and he couldn’t see a more deserving winner.

NEWEA vice president Raymond Willis attended the event. He and Burke have known each other since 2010 when they started together with NEWEA.

He said, “I know it’s killing her that we are making a fuss over her, but if we didn’t giver her the recognition she deserves, she won’t.”

Similarly, Mayor Avedisian said it was important for the community to come out and recognize as well as congratulate Janine for all she has done for Warwick because she would never take the credit for herself. He said whenever the city faced a water crisis, like the floods of 2010, Burke was always focused on her “vision of agency and reform” for the city.

Janine thanked everyone for their support

“Janine joined us at a critical point,” Aaron Guckian, chairman of the board for the sewer authority, said, “and she has helped us through every point since.”

Janine ended the brief ceremony with a quote from “A League of Their Own.”

“If it were easy, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.”