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Listen "Alan ”The Water Man” Roberson: Leading with Curiosity | Make Water Work 003"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of Make Water Work, we sit down with one of the most respected voices in the water sector—Alan Roberson, longtime industry leader, former Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), and 2025 Fuller Award recipient.
Alan shares how his journey from consulting engineer to policy leader gave him a front-row seat to the evolution of drinking water regulation, technology, and workforce development. From navigating the challenges of higher rates and affordability, to helping systems go from paper to digital, to building the next generation of water leaders—Alan brings wisdom and humility to every topic.
We explore:
Why higher water rates are inevitable—and how affordability programs must evolve
The importance of storytelling and communication in building public trust
Lessons learned leading ASDWA through COVID and the shift to digital
Workforce transitions: attracting new talent and transferring knowledge from a retiring generation
Practical advice for building a fulfilling career in water
Alan “The Water Man” Roberson has spent decades shaping policy, mentoring leaders, and advocating for resilient water systems. His perspective is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the future of drinking water.
Alan Roberson is the former Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). He has over 34 years of experience in the development of drinking water policy and federal and state drinking water regulations.
Prior to starting at ASDWA in 2017, he worked in AWWA’s Washington, DC, office for 25 years. During his time at AWWA, he authored or co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers, authored or co-authored a handful of book chapters, written numerous columns and Feature Articles for Journal AWWA, and made numerous presentations on a wide range of water quality and regulatory issues across the country.
He has been on Fairfax Water’s Board of Directors since 2009 and currently serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Water Quality & Supply Committee. He also is an adjunct instructor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, teaching a drinking water policy class annually at the Summer Institute.
He has a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia. He received the Fuller Award from the Virginia Section of AWWA in 2025.
Alan shares how his journey from consulting engineer to policy leader gave him a front-row seat to the evolution of drinking water regulation, technology, and workforce development. From navigating the challenges of higher rates and affordability, to helping systems go from paper to digital, to building the next generation of water leaders—Alan brings wisdom and humility to every topic.
We explore:
Why higher water rates are inevitable—and how affordability programs must evolve
The importance of storytelling and communication in building public trust
Lessons learned leading ASDWA through COVID and the shift to digital
Workforce transitions: attracting new talent and transferring knowledge from a retiring generation
Practical advice for building a fulfilling career in water
Alan “The Water Man” Roberson has spent decades shaping policy, mentoring leaders, and advocating for resilient water systems. His perspective is a must-listen for anyone who cares about the future of drinking water.
Alan Roberson is the former Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). He has over 34 years of experience in the development of drinking water policy and federal and state drinking water regulations.
Prior to starting at ASDWA in 2017, he worked in AWWA’s Washington, DC, office for 25 years. During his time at AWWA, he authored or co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed papers, authored or co-authored a handful of book chapters, written numerous columns and Feature Articles for Journal AWWA, and made numerous presentations on a wide range of water quality and regulatory issues across the country.
He has been on Fairfax Water’s Board of Directors since 2009 and currently serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Water Quality & Supply Committee. He also is an adjunct instructor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, teaching a drinking water policy class annually at the Summer Institute.
He has a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia. He received the Fuller Award from the Virginia Section of AWWA in 2025.
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