The water industry needs to move away from a segmented view toward a holistic one, says John Donahue, American Water Works Association (AWWA) president. “More than 60% of our members wear more than one hat. If we’re going to continue to meet their needs, we have to embrace a total water solutions concept where we’re providing training, education, and manuals of practice not only for the drinking water industry, but for wastewater and water reuse.”
Donahue also wears more than one hat as CEO of the North Park Public Water District in Machesney Park, IL, with its 12,500 connections serving 33,000 people.
For the AWWA, Donahue prioritizes infrastructure, the energy/water nexus and the effects of drought. The AWWA is working with Congress to create a new financing mechanism through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority to provide low-interest loans for substantial capital projects. Committees are monitoring climate change and water supply.
“Drinking water is the most precious resource we have. It’s taken for granted [that you can] open up your tap and it’s going to be there. You don’t have to wonder about whether it’s going to be safe for you to drink. Municipalities have done such a good job in North America in making drinking water a non-issue that when it does become an issue, such as concerns over fracking, it’s a huge issue.”
What He Does Day to Day
Donahue balances his roles with the help of staff. “Seeing the pride that my organization takes in my involvement in AWWA is very rewarding. I realize how fortunate I am, and I’m not taking it for granted.”
What Led Him Into This Line of Work
Donahue landed a job out of high school as a small community wastewater treatment plant operator. “I certainly wasn’t looking for a career. I didn’t go to college in the traditional manner,” he says, adding that some experienced employees mentored him, encouraging him to get certification. Within three years, he took over plant operations, then, at 27, accepted another job as superintendent of a medium-sized Illinois water and wastewater plant, gaining local media attention. He now mentors and advises youth.
What He Likes Best About His Work
Donahue regards this as one of the most exciting times to be in AWWA, with the launch of the Community Engineering Corps in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers and Engineers Without Borders to provide assistance to rural and tribal communities. “Our predecessors in AWWA, through no small effort, eradicated waterborne disease in North America. This is the legacy they left us. Now we are looking at other countries with high infant mortality rates and significantly lower life expectancies and most of that, according to the World Health Organization, has to do with waterborne disease, the lack of basic sanitation and access to drinking water.”
In 2009, Donahue was honored with the George Warren Fuller Award for distinguished service to the water supply field.
His Greatest Challenge
Managing people as CEO: “We have the same types of customer service issues that most communities have. We have to do things that are not pleasant such as turning off water for non-payment and dealing with customers who are unhappy with that fact.” It’s also challenging for him to take the utility into the 21st century, keeping rates manageable while working toward growth.
For AWWA, it will take financial resources to carry out its goals. “We are looking at not only doing that in a traditional way through our member base, but at philanthropic opportunities and grants to help us provide educational opportunities to small and rural systems…to get those boots on the ground and provide the training and education so desperately needed. These are things we’ve never done before. The next few years are going to be tremendously exciting.”
