Blue gold

In 2004, when a young Alex Whiteway embarked on his career in the municipal wastewater crew, little did he know that those humble beginnings were the start of something much bigger. Those days spent in the sewers turned out to be a foundational experience that ignited a passion for the water utilities industries.

Over the years, his role evolved as he gradually rose through the ranks. Now, as the Director of Arlington Water Utilities, Whiteway’s love of the field has flourished alongside his sense of determination.

“I want to make Arlington Water Utilities one of the best in the nation, if not the world,” he says.

Cultivating positivity

Whiteway understands that such a bold goal could seem unrealistic, but a positive worldview comes with his personality – and the territory. The Texan city of Arlington itself is known as the American Dream City.

“I always had the mentality that I could do anything,” he tells The CEO Magazine, adding that this willingness to take on various roles and challenges positioned him as a valuable member of any team.

“When another crew needed help, I was always selected to go help that crew.”

Fostering this type of positive work culture has become central to his leadership philosophy.

“Culture is very big to me,” he says, emphasizing the importance of creating an environment where employees feel valued and motivated.

Whiteway believes that when 90 percent of employees’ time is enjoyable, it benefits the entire operation.

“A positive work environment leads to greater productivity, volunteerism and professional development,” he stresses.

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Employee buy-in is also essential to his approach. “Don’t just tell your staff to do something; make sure they understand why,” he advises.

Creating strong team dynamics is another priority. “I like them to have voices,” he says.

During his regular visits to various facilities, Whiteway always makes himself available to take questions. An annual awards lunch serves as another important touchpoint, allowing him to recognize staff contributions and show appreciation for his team’s hard work.

“I could not do it without them,” he points out.

Community collaboration

That emphasis on collaboration also extends to the local community, with Whiteway pinpointing it as crucial to Arlington Water Utilities’ delivery of efficient service.

“Every time a resident calls in a leak, we take it seriously and investigate that leak,” he explains.

Water conservation is also a key concern, with the department working tirelessly to find long-term solutions to the environmental dilemmas it faces. For example, it is actively working on innovative solutions for water conservation.

“One goal for us is we’re looking at trying to reduce our water loss,” Whiteway reveals.

The department has also introduced Arlington’s first ever leak detection canine program, partnering with Arlington Animal Services to give the dog both a job and a home. Furthermore, the department’s proactive inflow and infiltration program reduces rainwater and groundwater from infiltrating the wastewater system.

Proactive maintenance is another key focus for Arlington Water Utilities, and the department has saved substantial costs by handling some capital improvement projects in-house, reducing a US$1.4 million project to just US$334,000.

Embracing technology

According to Whiteway, technology plays a critical role in these environmental efforts as well as in enhancing performance.

“We need to look at different technologies that can build efficiencies for us,” he says.

He expects the full implementation of new meter-reading technology to be a game-changer.

“That’s going to allow us to have different customer service tools that we can provide to all residents so they can monitor their consumption and report leaks,” he explains.

“With the launch of the new mobile app, residents will be able to monitor consumption by the hour and know exactly what they are using right at their fingertips, and I think that goes hand in hand with water conservation.”

Innovations such as AI help the team collect more data by evaluating sewer system footage and allowing staff to focus on data collection as well as other critical tasks. Additionally, energy-efficient pumps have been introduced in water treatment plants to reduce the typically significant electricity costs associated with water operations.

Staying abreast of the latest technologies is therefore essential, with Whiteway prioritizing education both for himself and those he works with. Collaborating with industry partners such as Giant Maintenance and Restoration also ensures that Arlington stays at the forefront of innovation.

“When we have a new project, that’s when we collaborate. They let us know what the new technologies are out there and what they’ve learned,” he says.

Next on the cards is the launch of Arlington Water Utilities University – an innovative program that will educate citizens about the complexities of water systems and promote conservation efforts.

“We need to come together as a team. It’s a partnership between Arlington Water Utilities and the community to work together to make sure that we are conserving water, being efficient and being understanding. Because at the end of the day, water is blue gold,” Whiteway says.

“It is an extremely valuable asset and with the future growth and population, we’ve got to make sure that we are conserving as much as possible and building efficiencies out there to make sure that we can sustain for the future.”