AWWA Water Champion – Craig Palmer, Erie, Pennsylvania

Craig Palmer, P.E., became chief executive officer at Erie Water Works this year after serving as senior manager of engineering services since 2006.

Education: B.S., Civil Engineering, and M.S., Business Administration, The Pennsylvania State University

How and why did you get involved in the water sector? As a Penn State engineering student, I found my path to civil engineering and water related studies by first ruling out the engineering disciplines I didn’t like. I began to specialize in hydraulics and hydrology without understanding how involved and absolutely necessary it was for engineers to overcome challenges related to providing clean drinking water and adequate wastewater treatment. As I searched for my first job, the most promising opportunity happened to be with a consulting firm in Erie, Pennsylvania, whose clients were primarily sewer and water utilities. From there, I fell in love with water and how critical it is for building and supporting thriving communities. 

What do you enjoy most about your work at Erie Water Works? Working together as a team to achieve our mission each and every day means everything to me. We are lean but mighty and I’m constantly inspired by the dedication of our team. Water utilities are the only type of utility that delivers a product for consumption; we’re essentially a public health agency. We take that responsibility very seriously, but we have fun, too.

What is a water infrastructure project you’re most proud of? It’s actually a three-phase project implemented over the past 15 years at our Richard S. Wasielewski Water Treatment Plant, featured in the May 2024 Opflow magazine. The $70M project added new pumps, generators, ultrafiltration membranes, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and many other improvements. It’s very satisfying to see the hard work of so many result in such profound and meaningful improvements for our water system.

How have you benefited from your involvement with AWWA? The connections with talented and dedicated industry professionals have been of great benefit. Inspiration. Cooperation. Brainstorming. Benchmarking. Support. Camaraderie. These all describe what I think about when I consider how AWWA and the Pennsylvania Section have benefited me. Water professionals are some of the best humans on earth!  

What is your experience with “No Water, No Beer” specific to the Erie region? I’m interested in spreading the message of No Water, No “______.” Fill in the blank. This puts into perspective how critical water is for literally everything we do, and most of what we buy or consume. The Erie Water Works has been cobranding and using the No Water branding on some merchandise locally as a way to help raise money to support a customer assistance fund for lower income customers. I see great potential to expand this locally and nationally to help raise awareness and appreciation for water.

Please describe your family and interests. My wife, Brandy, is a speech language pathologist working in early intervention. We have three children, Abbey, 22, Noah, 19, and Aiden, 17. I’m a lover of music, the outdoors, and anything relating to water. In Erie, we have incredible access to a GREAT lake, so we love doing things on the water — swimming, kayaking, hiking along Presque Isle State Park, and enjoying some of the best sunsets in the world.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? I’m a cairn builder. Translation – I enjoy stacking rocks. It’s Zen time for me. Sometimes a bourbon and some rock stacking are just what I need after a long day. Don’t forget, “No Water, No Bourbon.” 

Anything else you’d like to add? Water professionals must continue to mentor the next generation. If you are a decision-maker, then make the decision to have employees participate in AWWA. If you are not a decision-maker, then make the case for your membership and you will never regret it.