Keeping the License to Operate: ReWa’s Community Engagement Strategy with Rebecca West, CEO of ReWa

In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark speaks with Rebecca West, Chief Executive Officer of Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) in South Carolina, about the importance of community engagement in maintaining a utility’s license to operate. The conversation explores how ReWa emphasizes on a more outward-facing organization, focused on resource recovery, long-term infrastructure planning, and public trust. Rebecca explains how growth, rising costs, and changing customer expectations have made engagement more important than ever, and shares examples of how ReWa is bringing the community into discussions about major capital projects, biosolids, and the future of water in upstate South Carolina. The episode highlights the value of transparent, practical, and hands-on communication in building support for essential infrastructure investment.00:00 Introductions00:35 Meet Rebecca West: background and past roles02:04 Geography and service area: Greenville and five upstate South Carolina counties02:42 ReWa’s name change and focus on resource recovery and biosolids03:57 Why community engagement matters amid growth and rising costs05:18 Energy intensity, nutrient removal, and the push toward energy neutrality07:05 Public-facing infrastructure engagement: Swamp Rabbit Trail event10:40 Biosolids outreach, farmer advocates, and extra mile to build trust12:24 Advice for newcomers: “Jump in” to the water sector and get fully immersed