WateReuse Association Approves John Kmiec as 2026 President
Date: December 12, 2025
On December 12, the WateReuse Association Board of Directors approved John Kmiec as the association’s president for 2026. John has...
WateReuse Association Approves John Kmiec as 2026 President
Date: December 12, 2025
On December 12, the WateReuse Association Board of Directors approved John Kmiec as the association’s president for 2026.
John has offered his distinguished services to the Board of Directors since 2022. Prior to that, he served on the board of the WateReuse Arizona state section since its founding in 2005. His long history with the association and collaborative leadership approach will serve WateReuse members during the pivotal year to come. In 2025, the Board of Directors hired Bruno Pigott as Executive Director, and John chaired a Nominating Committee to fill five Board vacancies. In 2026, the association will guide the federal government’s next steps on the Water Reuse Action Plan, advocate for a timely industrial reuse tax credit, and host the annual WateReuse Symposium in Los Angeles – which is on track to break attendance records. John’s presidency aligns with a critical national moment: federal agencies, Congress, and industry partners are increasingly taking interest in water recycling as a solution to our nation’s water challenges.
John boasts four decades of experience envisioning and advocating for water and wastewater programs in Arizona and beyond. As the Director of Tucson Water, John oversaw development of the city’s One Water 2100 Plan and advanced its early implementation through extensive community engagement and multi-jurisdictional coordination. He secured funding through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to construct an advanced water purification facility by 2031 as part of the broader Pure Water | Tucson program, which is shaping statewide frameworks for next-generation reuse.
John’s vision also helped pave the path for Arizona’s new regulatory framework for water reuse. John chaired the Recycled Water Committee of the Governor’s Water Augmentation Council from 2016-18, which provided the recommendation and blueprint for Arizona to end its prohibition on direct potable reuse. Over the following nine years, WateReuse Arizona collaborated with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and utilities and partners across the state to craft the state’s new Advanced Water Purification rule, which was adopted in 2025.
One of John’s most enduring contributions is his gift for transforming complex water science into compelling, relatable narratives. He never misses an opportunity to help people understand water reuse and feel pride in it, knowing that positive feelings lead to acceptance and action. With each presentation, tour, or council meeting, he reinforces the idea that reusing every drop of water is not just a necessity: it’s a legacy of responsible desert dwelling. His storytelling bridges the technical and emotional, building public trust and fostering a civic culture of conservation, innovation, and shared responsibility.
John received the AZ Water Association Individual Award of Excellence in 2023 and the Person of the Year award at the 2025 Arizona Water Reuse Symposium. He offers a leadership style defined by disciplined strategy, measured judgment, and a steady presence that drives consistent, results-driven progress through complex challenges.
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