30-Year Water Vet Hired to Head City Department

Bill Riley, a water utilities professional with more than 30 years experience, has been hired as the City of San Angelo’s water utilities director, effective Dec. 1.

For the past 12 years, Riley has served as the president and general partner of Water Resources Management, LLC, a water resources consulting firm that has assisted water utilities with developing strategies for a broad spectrum of operational, management, financial and resource challenges. From 1991-2000, he served as the water/wastewater utilities manager in College Station, where he began his career in 1983.

In leading San Angelo’s Water Utilities Department, Riley will be responsible for all operational and infrastructure matters related to water supply, production, distribution, quality and conservation, wastewater treatment, utilities maintenance, billing and customer service. He succeeds Ricky Dickson, who has been promoted to executive director of public works, a new post that will oversee Water Utilities, Operations and Engineering Services, the departments largely responsible for much of the city’s public infrastructure.

“We are extremely fortunate to have hired someone with Bill’s experience, qualifications and expertise,” Dickson said. “He’s fully aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for San Angelo’s water supply, our infrastructure and Water Utilities’ operations. He’s the right man for the job in terms of skill and temperament.”

From 2000-02, Riley managed the water and wastewater consulting practice of Reed, Stowe & Yanke, providing financial, management and operations guidance to public sector clients. Among the issues on which he has worked are wastewater reuse, water loss, water rate design, regional initiatives, and water resource planning and development, all of which are pending issues in various stages before the City Council.

“This is certainly an exciting time to be leading San Angelo’s Water Utilities Department,” Riley said. “I am well aware of the water issues we’re facing, from bringing the Hickory Aquifer fully online, to the potential recapture of rainwater from the Red Arroyo, to developing a regional water source with the West Texas Water Partnership, to ensuring the department’s financial solvency, and I believe my experience will enable me to contribute to all.”

The City has begun the search for an assistant water director.