AWWA Member Spotlight – Priya Persaud, Guelph, Ontario

Priya Persaud is a project manager in the engineering services division at the Regional Municipality of Peel in Mississauga, Ontario. Driven by a deep-rooted commitment to ensuring access to clean water and fostering diversity within the water sector, Persaud manages capital construction projects for water treatment facilities. 

Education/certification: Bachelor of Science, University of Toronto; Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University; Professional Engineer, province of Ontario.

How and why did you get into the water sector? I started working at Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders Canada while finishing my first degree at UofT. I was working with a logistician who had returned from building latrine systems in refugee camps. I felt too privileged to have never thought about the lack of clean water access in refugee camps and asked him how I could do what he did. He recommended I study engineering, so I enrolled at a school with co-op opportunities in the water sector. I ended up with a couple of placements at the plant where I now work.

What is an interesting project you’ve worked on? Our plant was an early adopter of ultrafiltration membranes in 2007, and we work closely with the vendor and interested universities to monitor their performance and lengthen their longevity. This includes ongoing research with two universities on our cleaning strategies and their impact on the membranes’ aging, and a project using SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) to help optimize the technology. 

What are your proudest accomplishments? My proudest accomplishments are leading the Ontario Water Works Association’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Working Group and launching the Diversity Member Engagement Committee. The dedication of our volunteers to positive change in the water industry makes it both fruitful and rewarding.

What impact are you seeing from water sector diversity initiatives? The work that has started across the sector shows a real willingness to engage with the communities that work with and use water, from source to tap and back again. I believe that over time, thoughtful and meaningful DE&I initiatives will encourage different perspectives and solutions to be brought to the table, ultimately equipping the sector with the tools it needs to address the emerging problems of the future. While it will be a while before the full impact is felt, I am hopeful that this conscientious and thoughtful approach will lead to sustainable progress in the water industry.

What do you find rewarding about your work? Collaborating with diverse stakeholders to find solutions is incredibly rewarding. I collaborate with many different stakeholders for both engineering and capital projects. When we encounter problems that none of us have seen before, the best feeling is seeing everyone come together to review our assumptions, then develop a strategy to work together. The discussions and camaraderie that develop usually lead to learning for everyone. 

How have you benefited from your AWWA membership? I joined AWWA and my local Section while still a student. A project manager encouraged me to attend the 2012 Water Quality and Technology Conference in Toronto, and I’m so glad I did. It opened an entire network of opportunities to learn and grow in the industry, get involved in local projects and initiatives, and really understand what it means to work in the water sector. AWWA and Water Environment Federation and their respective Ontario associations have helped me in my education and career growth, and I credit them with many of the opportunities that have led to my current success.

Describe your family and personal interests: Most of my immediate family lives within a two-hour drive, with some in the United States. I’m especially grateful that many have young children and live nearby, giving me the opportunity to spoil my nieces and nephews. I play tennis and enjoy Zumba. I also trained for a few years at a boxing club in Guelph. I enjoy walking on local trails, gardening, baking and I rarely say no to a scoop of ice cream.

What would surprise people to know about you? I was on the women’s fencing team (épée) at TMU for four years. Just as surprising, I no longer fence and haven’t picked up a blade since I left university.