Reimagining Water’s Future: Balance, Boldness & Being a Good Ancestor
💧 “We quietly protect public health. But it’s time to tell water’s story out loud.”
– Kendra Morris, CEO of Regulated Water, Veolia North America
In this episode of Meaningful Conversations, I speak with Kendra Morris, the new CEO of Regulated Water at Veolia North America—and someone who’s bringing a refreshing, big-picture perspective to the water sector.
With a background in city planning and public infrastructure, Kendra is helping to lead the water industry through a once-in-a-lifetime moment of change—where new regulations, aging systems, and rising public expectations are colliding.
And her insights? Bold, hopeful, and grounded in wisdom.
💡 What We Talked About
🟣 Balancing Compliance & Affordability
Kendra pulled the “Balance” card, a fitting symbol for today’s reality: delivering safe, PFAS-free water while ensuring it remains affordable for all.
🌍 A City Planner’s View of Water
With her planning lens, Kendra reminds us: infrastructure is more than pipes—it’s a driver of public health, community growth, and economic stability.
🌀 Thinking in 100-Year Cycles
Planning with the future in mind allows us to let go of short-term squabbles. What kind of ancestors are we being?
🧠 What’s Needed Now
- Innovation Beyond Technology
We can solve PFAS. But we also need new models of governance, regional planning, and watershed-wide collaboration. Kendra imagines a future where water authorities operate across political boundaries, guided by shared needs—not just jurisdiction. - Storytelling as a Strategic Tool
The industry has long worked under the radar—but the world is paying attention. Public trust, funding, and political support all hinge on our ability to tell water’s story clearly, early, and often. - Workforce & Purpose
From engineers to operators, water needs fresh talent. Storytelling isn’t just for the public—it’s how we attract the next generation by showing that working in water means working in service of people.
💬 What Touched Her Most?
“How much people care.
They want to do a great job. They want to protect their communities.
That shared intention—that’s what can dissolve our barriers.”
🎧 This episode is a must-listen if you’re curious about how to lead through complexity, spark collaboration, and shape the water industry for generations to come.
👉 Listen to the full episode here