Water reuse, resilience gain from new Black & Veatch appointment

As climate change carries increasingly varied challenges of both too little and too much water, cities and utilities are renewing their focus on reuse strategies to ensure a safe and resilient supply. Black & Veatch announced today the addition of water reuse expert Jo Ann Jackson as One Water Planning Practice Leader in the global construction, engineering, and consulting company’s Water Planning Group.

For more than 30 years, Jackson has worked in the public and private sectors focused on developing innovative water resource management and permitting strategies, most notably in the field of reuse. One Water, as advocated by organizations like the US Water Alliance, refers to a reuse-based approach that views drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and more as a singular resource to be managed holistically and sustainably.

Jackson’s One Water experience includes the planning, permitting, design, and implementation of nationally recognized reuse projects. She has an extensive history working with state regulators, from pioneering regulations facilitating non-potable and wetland reuse systems to more recently delivering potable reuse solutions. Having worked as both a consultant and an agency leader, she benefits clients by providing a comprehensive water policy and regulatory development background.

“Jo Ann has a long track record of solving challenging water needs by delivering innovative water reuse solutions,” said James Strayer, Director of Black & Veatch’s Planning & Asset Management team. “Her ability to navigate complicated regulatory environments, align stakeholders, address funding, and start up projects that deliver as promised is an asset to any organization, project, or program.”

Jackson is recognized particularly for her leadership the past six years serving as Director of Water, Wastewater and Reuse for the City of Altamonte Springs, Florida. While there, she was responsible for the management of a regional water reclamation facility, public access reuse system, stormwater treatment and augmentation system, and certified environmental laboratory.

Jackson’s signature achievement for the Altamonte Springs was overseeing the successful funding and implementation of the award-winning pureALTA direct potable reuse project. A demonstration pilot project and Florida’s first involving direct potable reuse, pureALTA during a year-long study met all its water quality goals, proved to be more energy efficient than systems using traditional reverse osmosis technology, and did not produce a concentrated brine waste stream.

“Reuse strategies have evolved over my career from being creative solutions for wastewater effluent disposal to now being critical to ensuring reliable and resilient water supplies,” Jackson said. “To solve new challenges in the water industry we must embrace a holistic ‘one water’ approach to deliver sustainable water supplies and environmentally sound water resource management solutions for future generations.”

Jackson is actively involved in the WateReuse Association and AWWA’s Direct and Indirect Potable Reuse Standard Committees. Prior to joining Black & Veatch, she served on the board of the Florida Water Environment Association Utility Council and was selected as a utility appointee to the Florida Potable Reuse Commission, which was charged with developing a regulatory framework for potable reuse in the state.