TEXASh2o | Summer 2026 |
The Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA | Every Drop, Every Day, Everywhere©
Preparing Texas Water Organizations for the Next Decade of Growth: Part 3 Page 3
AWWA ACE 2026 Award Winners Page 10-18
Texas YP Summit | Student Design Competition | And More!
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www.tawwa.org
| preparing for growth |
If You Fund It, They Will Come: Preparing Texas Water Organizations for the Next Decade of Growth BY DR. BARB JOHNSON aim foresight group, a division of elston johnson & associates
Strategic Foresight: Learning to See the Future Before It Arrives
I
have always been drawn to the future. Some might call it an active imagination or an openness to possibilities, but for me it has always been grounded in reality — a way of seeing patterns before they fully form. Long before I knew the term Strategic Foresight, I was practicing it. In 1996, I was working in the finance industry, establishing and leading an organizational development function. I could see where the credit card sector was
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heading — the consolidation, the automation, the shift in customer behavior, and the impact those changes would have on workforce development and change management. I built a strategy to prepare us for that future. The CEO supported it, but several senior leaders did not. I was told I had my "head in the clouds," and a few other comments that suggested my thinking was too far ahead of the moment. I left the organization after my son was born, and three years later a former colleague met me for coffee and said, "Barb, everything you talked about — we’re doing all of it now. You could see what we couldn’t." I don’t share that story to boast. I share it because it was the moment I realized that seeing emerging patterns is not enough. Leaders also need a way to explain what they see, to teach others how to interpret signals, and to build credibility around thinking that looks beyond the present. Years later, while working on my doctorate, I discovered Strategic Foresight as a formal discipline. It gave me the language, the methodology, and the structure to help organizations think about possible, preferred, and preventable futures. And more importantly, to communicate those futures in ways that leaders and teams can understand, prepare for, and act on. Strategic Foresight is not prediction. It is not intuition. It is a discipline, a structured way of scanning the environment, interpreting signals, and preparing for future conditions before they arrive. It is the difference between looking out the window to see if it’s raining and learning how to read the weather. And in Texas water today, as I discussed in my previous articles regarding the business landscape, organizational readiness, and workforce development, CONTINUED PAGE 30 | preparing for growth
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 3 |
| letter from the texas section chair |
Time Flies Texas Section American Water Works Association P.O. Box 80150 Austin, Texas 78708 www.tawwa.org Mary Gugliuzza, Chair 817-392-8253 Julie Hunt, Chair-Elect 817-228-2947 Greg Wukasch, Vice-Chair 210-845-0676 Marisa Vergara, Imm. Past Chair 210-798-2314 Daniel Nix Executive Director/Secretary-Treasurer 512-238-9292 Fax: 512-238-0496 danielnix.wf@gmail.com This publication is distributed bi-monthly to the more than 5,000 members and friends of the Texas Section – American Water Works Association. Contributing writers can contact the editor: Elizabeth Rose GCP Association Services, LLC PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691 512-251-8101 TXh20@tawwa.org The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2026 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc. © 2026 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc.
FOLLOW TAWWA ON FACEBOOK AND X!
Texas AWWA
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| 4 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
BY MARY GUGLIUZZA texas section chair
T
ime flies. I am a quarter of the way through my term as Section chair. One of my objectives for the year is getting a new Strategic Plan adopted at the March 2027 Board of Trustees meeting. The Strategic Planning Committee is being led by Chair-Elect Julie Hunt, who is doing a fantastic job shepherding the process along. Barb Johnson of AIM Foresight is leading us through this MARY GUGLIUZZA critical endeavor. 817-392-8253 The Strategic Plan will set our Section’s mary.gugliuzza@fortworthtexas.gov direction for the next five years by articulating our mission, goals and the actions necessary to accomplish the mission and goals. Executive Director Daniel Nix’s future annual business plans will be based on our Strategic Plan goals. The Strategic Plan is all about the future. It is about making sure the Texas Section keeps moving in a direction that meets our members' professional needs while providing value to existing and future members. The Strategic Plan is about staying relevant with our programming while adapting to changes in the water sector. To do this successfully, we need your input. We need you to be engaged in the process! We need to know what issues are important to you. Your feedback is what will shape our goals for the next five years. What are we doing well? What can we do better? What are we not doing that we need to start doing? What are we doing that is no longer as important to our members? Change is the only constant. If our organization does not embrace the changes, we can become stagnant and no longer an asset to our members. Our strategic planning process has two member-feedback opportunities — focus groups and a member survey. By the time this issue of TEXASh2o is distributed, you should have seen an email seeking participants in the focus groups and most, if not all, will have been held. Only 50 to 70 members will participate in this process. The information we gather through these focus groups will help in developing the member survey that will go out in October. This survey will CONTINUED PAGE 26 | letter from the texas section chair
www.tawwa.org
The future of Texas water The future of water in Texas isn’t just about pipelines, treatment plants, or technology. It’s about people — like David. Through projects supporting El Paso Water’s forward thinking initiatives, David is helping modernize aging infrastructure while preparing the region for long-term water resilience. By investing in the next generation of water leaders, we’re helping secure and protect the state’s water resources for decades to come — and ensuring utilities and communities are ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges head-on.
David Macias, Jr., PE Water Project Engineer
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| executive director report |
Under Pressure BY DANIEL NIX tawwa executive director A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. - Franklin D. Roosevelt
W
hen Queen and David Bowie released "Under Pressure" in 1981, they were singing about the stresses and expectations that touch every person's life. More than four decades later, those same two words describe the environment facing Texas water professionals. Every year seems to bring another challenge demanding our attention. Some develop slowly over decades, while others emerge almost overnight. Yet they rarely occur in isolation. Instead, they intersect, creating a level of complexity unlike anything our profession has experienced before. Texas has always been defined by growth, and with that growth comes responsibility. Our state's expanding population, thriving economy, and continued industrial development all depend on one resource that cannot be taken for granted—water. As professionals dedicated to protecting public health and managing this invaluable resource, we find ourselves balancing an increasing number of competing priorities. We are planning for prolonged drought while recovering from historic flooding events. We are replacing aging infrastructure that has faithfully served communities for generations while simultaneously designing new systems to accommodate unprecedented growth. We are also facing the challenge of managing the delicate balance between maximizing the use of the water resources that have sustained Texas for generations—including our rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers—while responsibly developing new sources of supply that once seemed beyond reach. Seawater desalination, potable reuse, and the beneficial use of produced water from petroleum exploration represent just a few examples of how innovation is expanding our understanding of what is possible. The future of Texas water will require both stewardship of the resources we have inherited
| 6 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
and the courage to explore new solutions for the generations that follow. At the same time, we continue searching for the next generation of operators, engineers, scientists, technicians, and utility leaders at a time when DANIEL NIX experienced professionals 512-238-9292 danielnix.wf@gmail.com are retiring in record numbers. Utilities are also challenged to finance these investments while maintaining affordability and public trust with the customers they serve. The future of our industry will ultimately depend on the people who choose to dedicate their careers to protecting and managing water resources. While workforce challenges are often discussed in terms of shortages, I believe we should also focus on opportunity. Across Texas, there is a new generation of water professionals bringing energy, creativity, and new perspectives to our industry. The upcoming Texas AWWA Young Professionals Summit is designed to support and encourage these rising stars by providing opportunities for leadership development, professional connections, technical growth, and engagement with experienced water leaders. By investing in our young professionals today, we are not only addressing a workforce challenge—we are strengthening the future of our profession and ensuring that the knowledge, passion, and commitment needed to protect Texas water resources continues for generations to come. CONTINUED PAGE 34 | executive director report
www.tawwa.org
| student design competition |
Student Design Competition Highlights Emerging Talent at Texas WaterTM 2026 BY THE TAWWA SDC COMMITTEE
T
he second annual TAWWA Student Design Competition brought a strong sense of energy and purpose to Texas WaterTM 2026 on April 28, as student teams from four Texas universities presented design solutions for a real-world water treatment challenge. The event offered an opportunity to showcase emerging engineering talent while connecting students with utility leaders, consultants, mentors, and industry professionals. This year’s participating universities were Tarleton State University, Texas State University, the University of Houston, and Texas A&M University. Together, the teams represented a broad cross-section of the technical skill and professional CONTINUED PAGE 38 | student design competition
Conveyance
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TAWWA Chair Mary Gugliuzza awards Lucas White with the University of Houston's team for placing 1st in the TAWWA Student Design Competition at Texas WaterTM 2026.
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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 9 |
| water industry hall of fame |
Mike Howe Named to AWWA Water Industry Hall of Fame
M
ike Howe was named to the Water Industry Hall of Fame at the American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE26) in June in Washington, D.C. The Water Industry Hall of Fame honors those who have made significant contributions to the field of public water supply. Howe’s significant public water supply contributions have distinguished him among his peers. His accomplishments have positively benefited AWWA, the members of AWWA, and the served public, which is the ultimate focus of AWWA’s Vision Statement, "A better world through better water." Howe retired from a combined 36-year public water supply career. He spent nine years with the city of Austin's water department and 27 years as the founding Texas Section AWWA executive director. His public water supply career has been earmarked by exceptional servant leadership, creativity and innovation. He helped deliver AWWA services at the point of need by developing and nurturing eight local strategic geographic affiliate chapters across Texas, helping the Texas Section grow and reach it's members at the local utility and service provider level. Howe also partnered with the Water Environment
Serving Texas with high-performance engineering solutions.
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| 10 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
Mike Howe is named to the AWWA Water Industry Hall of Fame at ACE26 by AWWA Past President Heather Collins and AWWA CEO David LaFrance.
Association of Texas to build Texas WaterTM, which has become the third largest water conference in the U.S., serving the multifaceted disciplines of the public water sector with high-quality technical tracks and networking opportunities, targeted to meet the ever changing and evolving needs of the public water sector. The conference total attendance exceeds 7,000 water professionals annually. He also created TXWARN, the nation’s largest utility-to-utility mutual aid program for response to and recovery from natural disasters. The Water Industry Hall of Fame was established in 1970 and commemorates the contributions to the water supply profession through practices, inventions, Mike Howe is recognized during the ACE26 Opening General Session. or literature.
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| diversity & inclusion award |
Greg Wukasch Receives AWWA Diversity & Inclusion Award
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reg Wukasch was recognized with the American Water Works Association Diversity & Inclusion Award at the Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE26) in June in Washington, D.C. The Diversity & Inclusion Award recognizes an individual or organization that establishes an environment that effectively creates diverse methods for access to water. Wukasch is a visionary leader who embeds equity and inclusion into the core of the San Antonio Water System’s operations and community programs. His work has transformed affordability assistance into a holistic, dignity-centered initiative that serves as a model for utilities nationwide. CONTINUED PAGE 24 | diversity & inclusion award
www.tawwa.org
Greg Wukasch is recognized with the AWWA Diversity & Inclusion Award at ACE26 by AWWA Past President Heather Collins and AWWA CEO David LaFrance.
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 13 |
| award of merit |
Dr. Ivonne Santiago Recognized with AWWA Award of Merit
D
r. Ivonne Santiago was recognized with the American Water Works Association Award of Merit at the Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE26) in June in Washington, D.C. The Award of Merit is an award of achievement to those outside the water profession who have demonstrated outstanding service in support of the principles of AWWA in providing better water for people. Dr. Santiago’s career exemplifies the mission of the American Water Works Association to create a better world through better water. A passionate civil and environmental engineer, educator, and community advocate, Dr. Santiago has dedicated more CONTINUED PAGE 27 | award of merit
Dr. Ivonne Santiago is recognized with the AWWA Award of Merit at ACE26 by AWWA Past President Heather Collins and AWWA CEO David LaFrance.
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| heroism and courageous service award |
AWWA Heroism and Courageous Service Award Recipients
A
rmando Garzo and Robert McKenzie were presented with the AWWA Heroism and Courageous Service Award at ACE26 in Washington, D.C. This award recognizes an act of heroism on the part of an employee(s) in the water utility profession wherein he or she, in the process of aiding some other person or persons, must have placed himself/herself at great personal risk. While Garzo and McKenzie were working for the North Texas Municipal Water District, they witnessed a motor vehicle accident and took immediate action to pull a person from a burning vehicle. These actions reflect extraordinary courage and a deep commitment to serving others and deserve recognition with this award.
www.tawwa.org
Robert McKenzie is presented with the AWWA Heroism and Courageous Service Award at ACE26 by AWWA Past President Heather Collins and AWWA CEO David LaFrance. Armando Garzo was also recognized with the award but was unable to attend.
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 17 |
| ace26 competitions |
Lady Lone Star Tappers Take Home National Title at ACE26
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Dallas Water Utilities Lady Lone Star Tappers took home the national title at the AWWA ACE26 Women's Pipe Tapping Competition in June in Washington, D.C.
ongratulations to the Dallas Water Utilities Lady Lone Star Tappers for taking home first place at the AWWA ACE26 Women's Pipe Tapping Competition in June in Washington, D.C. They won with a time of 2:19.33 and will qualify to defend their title at ACE27 in San Diego. Congratulations to Juanita Gonzalez, Amanda Gamez, Jessica Donovan, and Howard Goodman (coach) on their win. The San Antonio Water System Alamo Drillerz placed third in the men's pipe tapping competition at ACE26 with a time of 1:32:65. Congratulations to all of our competitors who represented Texas at ACE26!
Water is Precious. Merrick Helps Texas Keep It Flowing. Texas is growing, and its water infrastructure needs to grow with it. We know what your water and communities need, and we’d be proud to partner with you.
Specializing in: Water Mains | Sanitary Sewers | Pump Stations | Wastewater Lift Stations | Storage Tanks Kerry Hogan, PE, BCEE Texas Water Practice Lead 210.446.4349 | kerry.hogan@merrick.com
| 18 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
401 East Sonterra Blvd, Suite 250 San Antonio, TX 78258 www.merrick.com
www.tawwa.org
| texas yp summit |
Attend the First Texas YP SummitTM in Austin
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new conference is here to unite young professionals in water—the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association of Texas jointly present the first Texas YP Summit™! Join peers from across the state to build leadership skills, expand professional networks, and explore the future of the water sector. Tour a water or wastewater facility with host utility Austin Water, enjoy an evening on Lady Bird Lake, and take in a full day of summit activities, including a keynote from Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson, leadership and mentorship panels, and hands-on team challenges! The Texas YP Summit™ will be held Oct. 5-6 at the Austin Permitting and Development Center. Registration
is open to attendees who are early-career water professionals (ages 35 and under) eager to transform the future of water and students in engineering, environmental science, business, communications, and other disciplines prominent in the water sector. Registration cost: private sector: $125/$200 after 9/7; public sector: $100/$150 after 9/7. Students attending a Texas university or who reside in Texas are $50. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Visit www.txypsummit.org for more information and to register.
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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 19 |
| partnership awards |
2026 Partnership Award Texas Winners
T
he Partnership Programs award-winning utilities demonstrate an outstanding commitment to delivering superior quality drinking water to customers. These awards celebrate the dedication and commitment of drinking water and wastewater utilities to their communities. Two Texas utilities were part of the 2026 award recipients, showcasing their exceptional performance and contributions to the field. Each utility has met rigorous standards and exemplifies the highest level of service in the water community. These awards not only honor their achievement, but also inspire others to strive for excellence in water quality and the protection of public health and the environment.
Congratulations to these Texas utilities: Austin Water Albert H. Ullrich Water Treatment Plant Treatment: 10-Year Presidents Award Denton Municipal Utilities Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant Clean Water: First-Year Directors Award
Advertise in TEXASh2o! Contact Tracy at 512-251-8101 or tracy@gcptexas.net for more information
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| lawler lecture |
Fifth Annual Professor Desmond Lawler Lecture
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he Fifth Annual Professor Desmond Lawler Lecture is Thursday, September 24, at 3:30 pm at the Mulva Auditorium, EER Building, at the University of Texas at Austin. This free event is open for anyone to attend. This year's lecture features Dr. Karl Linden of the University of Colorado Boulder, who will speak on "Protecting Public Health at the Speed of (UV) Light: How Novel UV Sources are Transforming Disinfection and Oxidation in Water Treatment and Reuse". UV-C irradiation (200-280 nm) is known to be effective for pathogen disinfection in air and water treatment and the conventional low-pressure mercury vapor lamp emitting at 254 nm has been employed for over 100 years. Since the coronavirus pandemic,
interest in the use of Far-UVC (200-235 nm) has grown as this wavelength range is not very harmful to human skin and eyes. Specifically, research into krypton chloride excimer (KrCl*) sources emitting at 222 nm has unveiled some intriguing mechanisms for accelerating UV-based treatment in water and wastewater. This talk will trace through Professor Linden’s academic journey, illuminating the important role of UV wavelength in treatment of water, the fundamental mechanisms linking wavelength to increased efficacy for pathogen inactivation, and the exciting role that low-wavelength UV can play in enhancing photolysis and oxidation of contaminants of concern in water/wastewater treatment and water reuse.
Integrated Water Solutions for Texas From source to treatment, recovery, and reuse, STV delivers advanced water solutions backed by proven infrastructure delivery across Texas. With 14 offices statewide, STV is rapidly growing to support Texas communities.
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www.tawwa.org
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 21 |
| tw27 abstracts |
Submit an Abstract for Texas WaterTM 2027 Share your knowledge with the Texas Water community!
Deadline to submit an abstract: September 16, 2026
www.txwater.org And Save the Date! Texas WaterTM 2027 March 30-April 2, 2027 George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas
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www.tawwa.org
| diversity & inclusion award |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 | diversity & inclusion award His efforts go beyond compliance; they create spaces where all customers and employees can thrive as their authentic selves. In addition to his work with SAWS, the Texas Section of AWWA has benefited from Wukasch’s leadership in the Education Division and the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. His contributions and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion has been felt in webinars on water equity, discussions over generational communication, and conversations at Texas Water. He always brings his heart for helping people and doing the right thing in every situation. Wukasch has worked in the External Affairs Department with the San Antonio Water System for 26 years, overseeing both the SAWS Education and Customer Assistance programs. In 2018, he helped launch Uplift, a proactive assistance initiative to help the most vulnerable San Antonio neighbors in need.
| 24 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
He spearheaded the Uplift Program, a reimagined affordability and assistance initiative designed to remove barriers and reduce stigma for low-income families. Goals included simplifying access, expanding eligibility, and aligning staff resources for proactive community outreach. Wukasch’s big picture thinking and passion for giving back to his community-initiated programs through SAWS have greatly benefited the community. He was constantly asking the team how they can serve more neighbors and how can they reach the community where they live. Wukasch recognized that the people serving the community had to reflect the community they serve. SAWS is an anchor institution in the San Antonio area, and Wukasch is an anchor for his team. He and his team continue to think of ways to help their community during times such as natural disasters or loss of income from federal government shutdowns as San Antonio is a large military city. Whatever goal is set,
www.tawwa.org
| diversity & inclusion award |
he will find a way to reach it. He is also establishing guidelines for the future so the work at SAWS can continue. Wukasch amplified SAWS' impact beyond San Antonio by leading Texas Equity Coalition efforts and hosting national racial equity cohorts through the U.S. Water Alliance. These initiatives convened leaders from utilities across the country to develop frameworks for equitable hiring, contracting, and service delivery. His advocacy has seeded industry-wide conversations on making equity a core value and creating opportunities for utilities to adopt inclusive practices. He also serves as the Education Division chair for TAWWA and under this division created the Water Geeks program. The Education Division is committed to education of not only our water and wastewater professionals but of our youth and young professionals who will become the leaders of the water community. To meet their goals, the division provides a multifaceted approach to education. The Water Geek videos
allow people to understand what is involved in treating and delivering safe, clean water to homes and businesses in the community and is essential to understanding what utilities do every day. These videos are designed for all audiences and all age groups, and can be used in schools, community meetings, and other opportunities to help the public understand how utilities operate. The videos are produced for both English and Spanish speakers and include a video of the wonderful diversity of jobs and people in the water industry. Wukasch was instrumental in the concept, creation, and promotion of these videos. He has also assisted TAWWA’s Diversity and Inclusion committee with webinars on water equity, in-person round table discussions over why diversity, equity, and inclusion is needed in the water industry, and is always willing to assist where needed to reach more people. The Water Geek and D&I videos can be found on TAWWA’s website, www.tawwa.org.
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| letter from the texas section chair |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 | letter from the texas section chair help determine issues, member satisfaction, public awareness, and professional trends. The more members who respond, the better the data. Based on this feedback, we will develop goals and then detailed objectives, strategies and tasks to accomplish the goals. The full Board of Trustees must approve the five-year Strategic Plan, and the target to date to accomplish this is next Spring. Every Texas Section council, division and committee will have a role in carrying out this plan. Not all goals may apply to all councils, divisions and committees, but at least one will. After it is adopted, the Strategic Plan provides an opportunity to evaluate our overall structure to ensure we meet our goals and our members' needs. It is a living document upon which we will evaluate the Texas Section’s success. You are a vital component in this process. Not only do we need your input as we shape the Strategic Plan,
we need your participation in the councils, divisions and committees that conduct the programming which carries it out.
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| award of merit |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 | award of merit than 25 years to advancing equitable access to safe and sustainable water. Her work is deeply rooted in AWWA’s principles of public health protection and promotion, innovation, collaboration, and sustainability. As an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso, Dr. Santiago teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in civil and environmental engineering, while serving as the coordinator of the Civil Engineering Senior Design Capstone Program, director of the Hydraulics Laboratory, and accreditation coordinator for her department. Her educational approach integrates hands-on, real-world projects with classroom learning, inspiring future engineers to view their profession as one of service. She encourages students to engage with communities in need, empowering them to design solutions that directly improve quality of life through sustainable engineering. Dr. Santiago’s influence extends far beyond the walls
of academia. She believes that true engineering excellence lies in understanding and serving people, especially those in marginalized or underserved communities. Her philosophy embodies AWWA’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, stressing these attributes in ensuring that water solutions address not just technical needs, but human ones. Dr. Santiago’s extensive body of work encompasses a number of community-focused engineering works to include: • Haiti Water Project: Santiago led a team of students to design and build a solar-powered reverse osmosis water treatment system for the rural village of Po Ploom, Haiti. This system, which is still operational today, provides safe drinking water to 500 residents who previously had to walk hours to access unsafe sources. • Hurricane Maria Relief in Puerto Rico: In the aftermath of the devastating storm, she organized students through Engineers for a Sustainable CONTINUED PAGE 28 | award of merit
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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 27 |
| award of merit |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 | award of merit World to construct a suspension bridge in one of Puerto Rico’s most affected areas, reconnecting communities and restoring access to essential resources. • Safe Drinking Water for U.S.–Mexico Border Colonias: As principal investigator on a North American Development Bank-funded project, Dr. Santiago led a team that identified contamination in border communities, distributed filtration systems, and provided education on water quality and conservation. These are just a few highlighted initiatives reflecting her belief that clean, reliable water is a human right. This belief strongly aligns with AWWA’s mission to ensure safe and sustainable water for all. Dr. Santiago’s leadership transcends her university
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role. As chair of the El Paso Water Public Service Board, she brought her deep technical expertise and community perspective to guide one of the most forward-thinking water utilities in the nation. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing El Paso Water’s strategic stormwater management and infrastructure resilience, efforts that protect public health and ensure water security in one of the driest regions of the United States. In her capacity as a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Advisory Committee and former member of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board, Dr. Santiago has influenced federal policy on air and water quality issues along the U.S.–Mexico border. Her advocacy for long-term, sustainable infrastructure investment echoes AWWA’s value of professionalism and foresight in public service, ensuring that utilities act as stewards for future generations. Dr. Santiago views engineering as "a profession of
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www.tawwa.org
| award of merit |
service," and she instills this ideology in every student she mentors. By pushing the boundaries of where the classroom exists, she transforms education into a vehicle for social change. Her mentoring has shaped hundreds of young engineers who now lead with empathy, professionalism, and integrity in the water industry and beyond. Her students learn that true innovation is not merely technical, it’s human-centered. Whether designing systems for drought resilience in El Paso or safe water access in Haiti, Dr. Santiago demonstrates that water is more than an engineering challenge; it is a moral imperative. Dr. Santiago’s lifelong dedication to improving water systems, mentoring future engineers, and promoting equity and sustainability stands as a testament to AWWA’s principles. Her work embodies the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and stewardship that defines the
Association’s mission to provide better water for people everywhere. Through her teaching, leadership, and advocacy, Dr. Santiago exemplifies what it means to be a servantleader in the water industry, creating a lasting legacy of compassion, excellence, and commitment to a better world through better water.
SETH Webinar for Utilities September 24 from 12-1 pm Join TAWWA for a free webinar for public water systems that are interested in learning more about SETH. www.tawwa.org/event/sethwebinar2026
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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 29 |
| preparing for growth |
leaders need to learn how to read the weather.
happening in the moment, where the storm is, how fast it’s moving, and what might happen next. If a pump fails, you ask why.
Strategic Foresight Defined Most leaders rely on three familiar thinking modes: problem solving, critical thinking, and systems thinking. These are essential, but they are oriented toward the present. Strategic Foresight is oriented toward the future. The difference becomes clear when we use a metaphor everyone understands: looking out the window versus forecasting the weather.
Systems Thinking: Understanding the Weather Pattern Systems thinking looks at how conditions interact. It helps you understand how pressure systems, humidity, and temperature combine to create storms. In water, it helps leaders understand interdependencies across infrastructure, operations, and people. If a pump fails, you look at the system to figure out how that failure was impacted by another part of your system, and how it might impact the rest of your system.
Problem Solving: Looking Out the Window Problem solving is immediate and tactical. It tells you what is happening right now. If it’s raining, you grab an umbrella. If a pump fails, you fix it. Necessary, but reactive.
Strategic Foresight: Learning to Forecast Foresight is different. It is the discipline of understanding the forces that shape future conditions. We can’t predict them with certainty, but we can prepare for them with clarity. Meteorologists are not always right. They use models, historical data, and pattern recognition, and the weather still has a mind of its own. Foresight works the same way. It does not guarantee accuracy. But, it can
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 | preparing for growth
Critical Thinking: Checking the Radar Critical thinking evaluates information and tests assumptions. It helps you understand what’s
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| preparing for growth |
increase readiness. Strategic Foresight asks these questions so we can begin to prepare for what may come later: • • • • • • •
What forces are shaping the future? What signals matter? What conditions are emerging? What scenarios are plausible? What futures are possible? What futures are preferred? What futures are preventable?
This is the discipline Texas water leaders need today. STEEP: The Structure Behind Foresight To practice foresight, leaders need a way to organize the signals they see. One of the most widely used frameworks is STEEP, which helps leaders scan the environment across five dimensions: • S – Social: population growth, workforce trends, community expectations • T – Technological: automation, digital tools, AI (data centers), operational technology • E – Economic: development cycles, private capital, M&A activity • E – Environmental: drought, climate volatility, water availability • P – Political: legislation, funding cycles, permitting, governance STEEP is a sense making tool. It is the equivalent of understanding the weather systems forming beyond the horizon. When leaders use STEEP consistently, they begin to see patterns earlier. They notice weak signals. They anticipate shifts. They prepare for multiple futures, not just one. What Foresight Means for Texas Water The Texas water sector is already experiencing the early edge of several long term forces: • rapid population growth in specific corridors • intensifying drought cycles • aging infrastructure • workforce shortages, more exits, fewer entrants • rising private sector involvement • increasing legislative oversight and direction for mitigating water loss and funding
www.tawwa.org
TAWWA is Planning for the Future — With You Strategic Foresight isn’t just for utilities and engineering firms. TAWWA is using the same discipline to shape its next five‑year Strategic Plan. Membership Survey Coming This Fall Your responses will help TAWWA understand: • Possible futures emerging in the Texas water sector • Preferred futures members want to build • Preventable futures the association must avoid This is Strategic Foresight in action! By applying foresight, TAWWA is preparing to meet member needs not only today, but in the years ahead.
• increasing expectations from communities and customers These forces are not isolated, and in fact, they often overlap and impact each other. They interact as a system, as a whole. For example: A drought intensifies political pressure; Political pressure affects funding cycles; Funding cycles affect infrastructure investment; Infrastructure investment affects workforce demand; Workforce demand affects organizational readiness; Organizational readiness requires specific leadership competencies. This is why foresight matters. It helps leaders see the connections before they become crises. Without foresight, organizations operate like people who only look out the window. They react to conditions as they appear, often with urgency and strain. With foresight, organizations operate like meteorologists: scanning, interpreting, and preparing for what may come. Foresight does not eliminate turbulence. But it can help you build for that turbulence and reduce surprise. How to Practice and Apply Strategic Foresight Foresight is discipline. It can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. Leaders do not need to become futurists. CONTINUED PAGE 32 | preparing for growth
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 31 |
| preparing for growth |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 | preparing for growth They need to become better observers of the present and better interpreters of the signals shaping the future. Here is how to begin. 1. Conduct regular STEEP scans. Quarterly or biannual STEEP reviews help leaders identify emerging trends and weak signals. This is the foundation of foresight. 2. Identify weak signals early. Weak signals are small indicators of larger shifts. For example, new technology, a legislative proposal, a workforce pattern. They matter because they often become tomorrow’s conditions. 3. Build simple scenarios — including possible, preferred, and preventable futures. Scenarios are not predictions. They are plausible futures. Leaders should build 3–4 scenarios and ask: • What future is possible • What future is preferred • What future is preventable • What would we do if each scenario occurred • What would we need • What would break • What would strengthen
4. Integrate foresight into planning. Master planning, capital planning, workforce planning, and strategic planning should all include foresight inputs. This shifts planning from reactive to anticipatory. 5. Use foresight to reduce turbulence. When leaders anticipate conditions, they make fewer abrupt decisions. They create steadier expectations. They reduce organizational turbulence, which was the theme of Article 2. 6. Engage external facilitation when needed. Many organizations benefit from a neutral facilitator who can help leaders interpret signals, surface assumptions, and build scenarios. In my consulting work, I’ve seen how external support strengthens clarity and alignment without the weight of internal dynamics. Foresight is not about being right. It is about being ready. Conclusion Strategic Foresight is the discipline that helps leaders anticipate change, reduce surprise, and prepare their organizations for multiple futures: possible, preferred, and preventable. It strengthens readiness, steadies leadership, and creates conditions for cultures that can adapt, innovate, and respond. Strategic Foresight is essential for utilities, engineering firms, manufacturers, water districts, and other businesses in the water sector. In the next article, we will turn directly to those cultures including the leadership behaviors and organizational culture that determine whether teams can carry the mission forward and create a preferred future and compete in possible futures.
See what events are happening near you at www.tawwa.org/events/ event_list.asp
| 32 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
www.tawwa.org
| cac social |
Register at www.tawwa.org/event/cacsocial2026
www.tawwa.org
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 33 |
| executive director report |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 | executive director report The demands on Texas' water resources continue to expand as well. Agriculture remains the backbone of our food supply, municipalities provide safe and reliable drinking water to millions of Texans, industry fuels our economy, electric generation depends upon dependable water supplies, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data centers are introducing entirely new demands in many regions of the state. None of these water users are unimportant, nor should they be viewed as competitors. Rather, they remind us that every sector of our economy is connected by the same finite resource and that the future of Texas depends upon managing that resource wisely. Throughout my career, I have become convinced that our greatest water challenges are rarely technical alone. The science and engineering are essential, but lasting solutions are built upon collaboration. Water does not recognize political boundaries, organizational charts, or professional disciplines. A river flowing through Texas serves municipalities, irrigates crops, supports industry, generates electricity, sustains ecosystems, and provides recreation without regard to who receives the next gallon. Our responsibility is not to determine who deserves water most, but to work together to ensure that future generations have enough to meet their needs. That philosophy was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Agriculture Water Sustainability Summit. When we adopted the theme "From Fields to Faucets", it reflected a simple but powerful truth: every Texan depends on the same water cycle. Whether our work begins in an agricultural field, at a treatment plant, in a laboratory, at a regulatory agency, or in a boardroom, we are all connected by the responsibility to protect and wisely manage our state's water resources. As new challenges emerge, our profession must also remain committed to anticipating change rather than simply reacting to it. The American Water Works Association recently published "Cooling the Cloud: Water Utilities in a Data-Driven World", recognizing that industries such as artificial intelligence and large-scale
| 34 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
data centers will increasingly influence water planning decisions across the country. What makes this issue particularly challenging is how quickly the landscape has changed. As recently as five years ago, large-scale data centers were not a significant consideration for many water planners and were not a significant factor in the demand projections used to develop the State Water Plan that has guided Texas water resource decisions over the past several planning cycles. Today, communities across Texas are having conversations about how to accommodate these facilities while protecting existing water supplies and maintaining reliability for current customers. While data centers represent only one of many emerging issues facing our profession, they serve as an important reminder that successful water planning cannot simply be based on yesterday's assumptions. The most resilient utilities are those that recognize changing conditions early, engage stakeholders proactively, and adapt their strategies before tomorrow's challenges become today's emergencies. Preparing for the future requires more than building treatment plants or developing new water supplies. It requires investing in resilient infrastructure, strengthening our workforce, embracing innovation, protecting source waters, and ensuring that financial decisions are both responsible and sustainable. It also requires something less tangible but equally important: public trust. Every decision involving water allocation, infrastructure investment, regulatory compliance, procurement, or public communication must be grounded in ethical leadership. The confidence our communities place in us has been earned over decades, and preserving that trust is one of our profession's most important responsibilities. Fortunately, the Texas water community has never allowed pressure to define it negatively. On the contrary, pressure has consistently inspired innovation. Our state has become a national leader in conservation, advanced treatment technologies, direct potable reuse, and collaborative water planning because dedicated professionals refused to accept that yesterday's solutions would always be sufficient for tomorrow's challenges. That same spirit of innovation continues to position Texas as a leader in addressing the complex issues that lie ahead.
www.tawwa.org
| executive director report |
This is precisely why Texas AWWA exists. Our mission extends beyond providing technical education and professional development. We bring people together, encourage meaningful dialogue, foster partnerships, and prepare our members to lead with confidence in an increasingly complex environment. Whether the issue is drought, flooding, workforce development, infrastructure renewal, financing, ethics, emerging contaminants, agricultural sustainability, or the water demands created by new industries, our role remains the same: to equip Texas water professionals with the knowledge, relationships, and leadership necessary to meet whatever comes next. As I look toward the future, I see significant pressures facing our profession, but I also see extraordinary opportunities. Every challenge before us is an invitation to think more strategically, collaborate more intentionally, and lead more effectively than ever before. The future of water in Texas will not be determined by a single profession, a single utility, or a single industry. It will be shaped by all of us working
together with a shared commitment to stewardship, innovation, and service. There has never been a more important time to be part of the water profession. The challenges are greater, the expectations are higher, and the responsibility has never been more significant. But neither has our ability to make a difference. Together, we have the knowledge to innovate, the partnerships to succeed, and the commitment to ensure that Texas remains a place where communities can grow, agriculture can prosper, and future generations can thrive. The pressure facing Texas water is real. But pressure has always revealed the strength, creativity, and commitment of our profession. The future will belong to those willing to collaborate, innovate, and lead with purpose. That is the work of Texas AWWA members: turning pressure into progress and challenges into opportunities for the future of Texas water.
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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 35 |
| new members |
TAWWA Welcomes New Members Joining May 16, 2026 – July 31, 2026 Jose Aceves Houston, TX
James Ashley Rowlett, TX
Jerry Bartlett Jr. Abilene, TX
Bill Blaik Austin, TX
Walter Carrillo Pleasanton, TX
Jesus Diaz El Paso, TX
Esperanza Aguilar San Antonio, TX
John Ashworth Dickinson, TX
Moises Beas San Antonio, TX
Iris Bradbury Austin, TX
Philip Carroll Selma, TX
Matthew Dlouhy Universal City, TX
Mario Aguilar San Antonio, TX
Jean Autrey San Antonio, TX
Shane Beauchamp Universal City, TX
Eddie Bray Kyle, TX
Edgar Castillo Greenville, TX
Jeremy Dueitt Tomball, TX
Saul Aguinaga Wilmer, TX
Arash Azizi Arlington, TX
Danielle Beck Arlington, TX
Tyler Bridges Richmond, TX
Donald Cato Sherman, TX
Davis Duncan Grand Prairie, TX
Nicholas Allinson Midland, TX
Usha B Austin, TX
Ryan Beene Leonard, TX
Rafael Briones Houston, TX
Jose Chavez Harlingen, TX
Wesley Dupuis Lake Jackson, TX
Gabino Amaya Kingsville, TX
Ben Bafford Dallas, TX
Justin Beltz Sugar Land, TX
Karleigh Brown Houston, TX
McKenzie Cloud Lewisville, TX
Cristian Duran Houston, TX
Savitha Anali V S Austin, TX
Tom Barnett Austin, TX
Guillermo Benavides Bryan, TX
Nancy Bueno Katy, TX
Derek Cohen Austin, TX
Shawn Durham Irving, TX
J. Dalton Anderson Jarrell, TX
Weston Baros San Antonio, TX
Garrett Bennett Fort Worth, TX
Brock Burford San Marcos, TX
Richard Correa Richardson, TX
Morgan Early Texas City, TX
David Andrew Post, TX
David Barrera Kerrville, TX
Nicholas Benson Weatherford, TX
Remington Burklund College Station, TX
Claudia Corsetti Austin, TX
Olivia Eckhardt Universal City, TX
Brian Aranda Brownsville, TX
Jorge Barrero Dallas, TX
Jason Biemer San Marcos, TX
Robert Burney Greenville, TX
Brent Crocker New Braunfels, TX
Cody Edwards League City, TX
Kevin Burns Decatur, TX
Juan Cruz New Braunfels, TX
Drew Engelke Seguin, TX
Emily Busby Carrollton, TX
Cameron Currie Belton, TX
Charles Ercol Texas City, TX
Jerry Bustamante Houston, TX
Todd Curtis Waco, TX
Martin Espinoza Canyon Lake, TX
Charles Butler-Edwards Houston, TX
Cody Davis Richardson, TX
Sean Estle Round Rock, TX
Carlos Canales Del Rio, TX
Tim Davis Highland Village, TX
Derek Evans Houston, TX
Eric Canales Fort Worth, TX
Jeff Deets North Richland Hills, TX
Evie Falcon Sherman, TX
Marcus Cantu San Antonio, TX
Nacho DeLeon Greenville, TX
Katy Fitzgold Austin, TX
Rolando Carlos Brownsville, TX
Roland DeLeon Yancey, TX
John Flippen Glen Rose, TX
Grady Carlson Selma, TX
Rudy DeLeon Greenville, TX
Juan Flores Dallas, TX
Andy Carrigan Ennis, TX
Jonathan Deshler Abilene, TX
Angela Forbes Alvin, TX
Roberto Carrillo Pharr, TX
Don Dever Baytown, TX
McKenzie Fowler Dallas, TX
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Visit TAWWA's Career Center at https://careers.tawwa.org/
www.tawwa.org
| new members | Josh Frazier Midland, TX
Scott Greene Corpus Christi, TX
Raghu Iyer Houston, TX
Wayne McQuaid Wimberley, TX
Tommy Raye Spring, TX
Jeff Tepsick El Paso, TX
Patrick Frerich San Angelo, TX
Fred Griggs College Station, TX
Kerim Jacaman San Antonio, TX
Iris Mendoza Fort Worth, TX
Jesus Rios San Antonio, TX
Evan Thompson Fort Worth, TX
Armando Fuentes El Paso, TX
Leyla Gutierrez Carrollton, TX
Ruby James Tyler, TX
Sarah Mendoza-Urrutia Lubbock, TX
Yvonne Rivera Mechanicsburg, PA
Edgar Tijerina McAllen, TX
Chris Fuller Cleburne, TX
Oscar Gutierrez Crosby, TX
Rashaad Jenkins Houston, TX
Lindsey Mondon Mansfield, TX
Jeihri Robinson Liberty Hill, TX
Barry Tompkins Irving, TX
Matt Furniss Fort Worth, TX
Trino Gutierrez Katy, TX
Kory Jernigan Goldthwaite, TX
Elizabeth Montgomery Lindale, TX
Gerard Rodriguez San Antonio, TX
Israel Trevino Houston, TX
Zindy Galindo Midland, TX
Eric Haffner Blum, TX
Thayer Jones San Antonio, TX
Erin Morris Dallas, TX
Chase Rosser San Antonio, TX
Tyler Trimble Austin, TX
Armando Garcia Houston, TX
Hudson Hale Atlanta, TX
Christina Kaeini Austin, TX
Mary Myers Round Rock, TX
Joseph Sandoval New Braunfels, TX
Michael Truitt Spring, TX
Brandon Garcia Lakeway, TX
Dwayne Hamilton San Antonio, TX
Bradley Keating Houston, TX
Valerie Sandoval Tomball, TX
Llarance Turner Rosenberg, TX
David Garcia Progreso, TX
George Hana Lubbock, TX
John Keen Savoy, TX
North Harris County Regional Water Authority Houston, TX
Ivan Rene Santos Chavez Edinburg, TX
Ajax Urback Houston, TX
Eric Garcia Houston, TX
LaSheryl Handy Cedar Hill, TX
Cory Kirkland Houston, TX
Madisen Scarborough Spring, TX
Julia van Witzenburg Dallas, TX
Francisco Garcia El Paso, TX
Rick Hardcopf Keller, TX
Bryan Klein Amarillo, TX
Karl Schmitz Houston, TX
Bailee Vicknair Richardson, TX
Gisella Garcia Seguin, TX
Mitchell Haug Aubrey, TX
Jewel Koenig Arlington, TX
Krishna Shamanna Austin, TX
Joshua Walker Houston, TX
Marcus Garcia San Antonio, TX
Scott Henchel Webster, TX
Nick Kohel Dallas, TX
Manika Sharma Austin, TX
Devyn Warren Houston, TX
Sarah Garcia Marble Falls, TX
Anthony Hernandez San Antonio, TX
Joseph Lagos San Antonio, TX
Steven Silco Wylie, TX
Adam Wickersham El Paso, TX
Victor Garcia San Antonio, TX
Fred Hernandez El Paso, TX
Morgan Lane Midlothian, TX
Abby Sisung Northlake, TX
Jan-Michael Williams Van Vleck, TX
Daniela Garnica Fredericksburg, TX
Jackeline Hernandez Stafford, TX
Lee Lattimore Kemah, TX
Asong Suh Conroe, TX
Chuck Wolf Houston, TX
Luis Garza Houston, TX
Richie Hernandez El Paso, TX
Risher Lewis Pinehurst, TX
Yilang Sun Lubbock, TX
Tarrissa Wynder Prairie View, TX
Richard Gauna Pearsall, TX
James Herrera Leander, TX
Rod Liebeck The Woodlands, TX
Joshua Suppan Horseshoe Bay, TX
Jessica Xu Houston, TX
Andrea Gentry Alvin, TX
Aliyha Hill Houston, TX
Charles Lino Pecos, TX
Joseph Gentry Alvin, TX
R'chino Hill Greenville, TX
Alexandria Lopez-Boor San Antonio, TX
Rich Gibbens Highland Village, TX
Homa Hodi Lewisville, TX
Cara Lynk Austin, TX
Ian Gibson Huntsville, TX
Adam Holguin El Paso, TX
Ridwan Mahmood Plano, TX
Maria-Elena Giner Austin, TX
Logan Holloway Corpus Christi, TX
Alejandra Marco El Paso, TX
Nancy Gonzalez San Antonio, TX
Addicus Hughes Red Oak, TX
Ruben Martinez Corpus Christi, TX
Joe Gordin Dickinson, TX
Chad Hutchinson Houston, TX
Emerie McCann Pearland, TX
Tomieray Grant Webberville, TX
Shelbi Hyde Mabank, TX
Brian McPherson Waxahachie, TX
www.tawwa.org
Timothy O'Brien San Antonio, TX Alejandro Ospina Irving, TX Brian Payne Buford, GA Greg Pearson Katy, TX Wyatt Peters Amarillo, TX Alec Pollock Lewisville, TX Polyguard Ennis, TX Tehya Ramirez San Antonio, TX Dillon Rattray-Mattis Grand Prairie, TX Tulasi Ravindran Austin, TX
Would you like to share what your Chapter, Committee or Division has been up to? Contribute an article to be featured in Texas H2O! Send articles to txh20@tawwa.org
TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 37 |
| student design competition |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 | student design competition commitment developing across Texas' water sector. The 2026 competition prompt focused on Upper Trinity Regional Water District’s Harpool Water Treatment Plant. Teams developed and presented design approaches for a proposed plant expansion, including alternatives and recommendations for a new membrane filtration system complex, modifications to chemical facilities, and a new clearwell for finished water storage. The project required students to balance technical analysis, practical implementation, and clear communication, all skills central to successful work in the water profession. The University of Houston earned first place in this year’s competition, standing out in a strong field of student design teams. Texas A&M University received second place, and Texas State University received third place. Each participating team contributed to a highquality competition that reflected the depth of preparation and enthusiasm students brought to the event. The competition depends on the support of many contributors, including design prompt sponsors, judges, university team industry mentors, faculty sponsors, TAWWA SDC committee members, and in-
kind sponsors. This year’s judging panel included representatives from Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD), Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), and Carollo: Ben Hodges of UTRWD, Eric Kong of GBRA, and Jim Gallovich of Carollo. Looking ahead, the next competition prompt will be sponsored by Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority for the Western Canyon WTP Expansion in 2027. The anticipated scope includes expansion of a 10 MGD membrane filtration plant, with considerations for solids and residuals handling, microfiltration membranes, disinfection byproduct (DBP) mitigation, potential draft Contaminant Candidate List 6 considerations, and maintaining plant operations during construction. Planning is also underway for future TAWWA Student Design Competitions. Utilities with projects that could serve as meaningful student design challenges are encouraged to share ideas with the SDC committee. Potential project concepts may be directed to Kyle Swank at kswank@civitasengr.com and Holly Deters at Holly.Deters@kimley-horn.com. As the competition continues to grow, it offers an important platform for students to engage with real infrastructure needs and for the water community to invest in the next generation of professionals. The creativity, collaboration, and technical excellence demonstrated at this year’s event point to a promising future for Texas’ water workforce.
Students from Tarleton State University, Texas State University, the University of Houston and Texas A&M University participated in the second annual TAWWA Student Design Competition at Texas WaterTM 2026.
| 38 | SUMMER 2026 TEXASh2o
www.tawwa.org
| calendar |
What’s Happening Across Texas DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
INFORMATION
SEPT 24
Fifth Annual Professor Desmond Lawler Lecture
3:30 pm
Mulva Auditorium, EER Bldg, UT Austin, Texas
www.tawwa.org
OCT 5-6
TAWWA/WEAT YP Summit
Austin Permitting & Development Center | Austin, Texas
www.txypsummit.org
OCT 20
Southeast Chapter Water For People, Beer For Us
6-8 pm
Saint Arnold Brewery Houston, TX
www.tawwa.org
OCT 27
CAC TAWWA Member Appreciation Social
6-9 pm
Loudmouth Austin, TX
www.tawwa.org
NOV 9
SE Golf Tournament in Memory of Larry Kelm
8 am
The Clubs of Kingwood Center Kingwood, Texas
www.tawwa.org
Want to share your event with the Texas water community? Contact TAWWA at helptawwa@gmail.com. Check the Section’s website, www.tawwa.org, for the latest information on Section activities. uAUSTIN
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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2026 | 39 |
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