New Brunswick Director of Water Utility Recognized by American Water Works Association

The city’s water utility director has been recognized for his work by the state chapter of an international organization committed to water stewardship and management.

Alexei “Lex” Walus was presented with an award at the annual conference of the New Jersey American Water Works Association in Atlantic City on March 21-24.

The award was given to Walus in honor of his “outstanding accomplishments and service in providing a quality water supply to the public and dedication in leadership in the water industry.”

He credits decades of training and experience as the reasons he, and the city’s utility, were honored by the industry, according to a press release from the city.

“I’ve been doing this since 1985,” Walus said. “People like me had the advantage of being involved in every aspect of the operation of a water utility where we touched everything and did everything. Monday you were cutting the grass, Tuesday you were painting fire hydrants, Wednesday you were reading meters. As the complexities of running a water utility grew, it has become more difficult for some to really become proficient in many of the areas of a utility.”

The New Brunswick Water Utility provides clean drinking water to city residents as well as surrounding communities. The utility manages water emergencies, distribution, treatment, billing, and meter readings.

The city in February unveiled a $36 million plan to make sweeping improvements to its water treatment plant and expand its membrane plant where water is filtered.

It will also embark on a $21 million project to replace some of the city’s water mains – most of which are more than 100 years old.

Walus will help oversee the implementation of ozone, an advanced oxidation technique and a powerful weapon in treating contaminants that are more difficult to break down.

He said the city will be able to treat 26 million gallons of water a day drawn from the Westons Mill Pond as well as the Delaware & Raritan Canal with the expanded membrane plant – with the potential to increase that capacity in the future.

“Lex’s extensive training, experience, and tireless work ethic have led the city’s efforts in creating a next-generation water utility that focuses on the latest technologies to serve our residents and customers,” Mayor Jim Cahill said.

By: TAPinto New Brunswick
Photo Credit: City of New Brunswick