Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E. has been chosen by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) as that organization’s Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee. This key position serves as the bridge between water utilities and the federal government.The committee's focus centers around regulatory and legislative policy, and WEF local member agencies.

The Water Environment Federation, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 33,000 individual members and 75 affiliated member associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, its mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation.

WEF and its global network of members and member associations provide water quality professionals around the world with the latest in water quality education, training, and business opportunities. WEF’s diverse membership includes scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, utility managers, plant operators, and other professionals. WEF uses this collective knowledge to further a shared goal of improving water quality around the world.

A public engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry, Director Chow came to Baltimore five years ago to head the Bureau of Water and Wastewater. On February 1, 2014, he was named Director of the Department of Public Works by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The Department serves over 1.8 million residents of the City and the five surrounding counties with a combined Operating and Capital budget exceeding $1 billion annually. Mr. Chow’s swift rise to DPW Director is a direct reflection of his transformational agenda and visionary leadership, which is designed to restore the City’s prominence in the water industry and the public works arena, and make DPW a best-in-class organization.

Prior to his arrival in Baltimore, Mr. Chow spent 27 years with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in Laurel, Md. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from George Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering from University of Maryland College Park. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Maryland and Delaware.  He is an active member in ASCE, AWWA, WEF, WRF, NACWA, AMWA, APWA, and SWANA and serves on a number of boards and committees.

The chairmanship appointment coincides with the Baltimore City Department of Public Works receiving “Utility of the Future Today” accolades last week at the WEF’s 89th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference. The program celebrates the progress and exceptional performance of the nation’s wastewater utilities and is sponsored by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, the Water Environment Research Foundation and WateReuse, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To obtain this recognition, utilities must demonstrate consistent, robust, and active engagement in areas that include: water reuse; watershed stewardship; beneficial biosolids reuse; community partnering and engagement; energy efficiency; energy generation and recovery; and nutrient and materials recovery.

Baltimore City DPW was one among 61 organizations chosen to receive this major honor.