FrenchUnited Water, United States of America
United Water, United States of America
(College 3 - Enterprises and Facilities)
About the organization
United Water is one of the leading providers of water and sanitation services in US serving over 7 million people in 17 statesa throughout the country. In addition to owning and operating regulated utilities, United Water operates municipal systems through public-private partnerships and contract agreements. Four of the nation's largest water and wastewater contracts are operated by United Water. Founded as Hackensack Water Company in 1869, United Water became the nation's second largest investor-owned water services company following a merger with GWC Corporation in 1994. At the same time, we gained a strategic alliance with Suez Lyonnaise Des Eaux which became a principal shareholder. During the next five years we worked together to pursue growth markets in North America. On July 27, 2000 United Water Resources became a wholly owned subsidiary of Suez Lyonnaise Des Eaux, an international leader in water and wastewater services.
Fields of expertise and activities: Water Resources Management, Water Supply or Sanitation, Regulation and Governance, Human Basic Needs or Health, Development or Infrastructure, Environment or Ecosystems, Education or Capacity Building, Economics or Finance, Research or Development
About the Governor representative
Patrick CAIRO
Mr. Cairo has over 35 years of professional experience in the management and administration of many US and international water and sanitation organizations both in the public and the private sector. Responsible for strategic planning and business development for United Water with an emphasis on corporate restructuring and major businesses activities. He is also responsible for external relations with multilateral agencies and industry groups in the water sector. Cairo has accomplished the realignment of major projects for United Water and Suez Environnement North America, its parent company.Until 2002, he served for six years as Director of Technology and research for Ondeo, in Paris, France. Prior to that, Cairo created and served as CEO of United Water Services.Cairo launched his career with the Philadelphia Water Department in 1968. He was appointed deputy Water Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer in 1986.He is on the Board of Directors of the Water Partnership Council, the National Council of Public-Private Partnership, and the US Conference of Mayors Urban Water Council. He has been appointed to the Water Utility Council of the American Water Works Association and is a member of the National Association of Water Companies and the International Water Association.Cairo holds both a BS and MS in civil engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania and a Certified Water Works Operator in Pennsylvania, Class A. He has published over 70 papers and articles on water management and technology innovation.
About the Alternate representative
Jacques LABRE
Mr. Labre has served at the Board of Governors of the WWC as an alternate since 2004. He has been involved in water management for 33 years, with government departments, engineering firms, regional water utilities, and the Suez group. He has a peculiar experience in water resources management, and has provided support in this area to international companies, including United Water.He is currently with Suez Environnement, the Division of the Suez Group managing the Water and Waste Businesses worldwide, as Vice President for Relations with Institutions. His duties include relationships with international institutions involved in water and development (intergovernmental institutions like UN agencies, EU… and Non Governmental Organisations), with universities and research centers working on public service policies and development.His experience covers Public Services in Water Supply & Sanitation, Water resources, Irrigation, small scale Hydropower, management of Engineering Companies, Local Authority Investment Planning.He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and then from Ecole Nationale du Génie Rural des Eaux et Forêts (ENGREF), specialized in Water and Environmental Engineering. He joined the Lyonnaise des Eaux group (now Suez group) in 1989 as Deputy Managing Director of Safege Consulting Engineers, a group of companies involved in water and environmental engineering services with a worldwide activity. He also serves as CEO of a subsidiary specialized in geophysics and geosciences.In 1998 he moved to the mother company Suez as development director in charge of new businesses in Water Resources Management (non conventional water resources, services to irrigation associations, etc…).In his present position, he is also teaching on Water and Sanitation services management, notably at the UNESCO-IHE Institute for water Education at Delft (The Netherlands).