OJ McFoy, Buffalo Native and Buffalo Water CEO

Today, Aquasight CEO Mahesh Lunani is joined by OJ McFoy, CEO Buffalo Sewer Authority and Chairman of Buffalo Water. OJ is a Professional Engineer, on the board of NACWA, and is a member of the US Water Alliance Equity Taskforce Team. OJ and his team is treating wastewater for over 500,000 residents in the State of New York and recharging Niagara River.  Throughout our conversation, you'll hear OJ's passion for his work shine through.OJ discusses the relationship between Buffalo Sewer Authority and the community it serves, upcoming challenges and investments, and how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help.  We also talk about wastewater technology and its use as an enabler for a circular economy.Social justice is an important topic for McFoy.  Buffalo is  majority minority city, with 30% of its population living below the poverty line.  And it's not secret why wastewater treatment plants often end up in communities of color.  OJ is working to serve those communities, and make sure that his board looks like the city it serves.We touch on how OJ has changed as a CEO since he started, and how Buffalo Water was better equipped to pivot during the pandemic than many other municipalities.Finally, Mahesh and OJ talk about the future of the water industry, and OJ's passion for recruiting talent at a young age.  This includes working with elementary and middle school students to get them excited about water. OJ McFoy is in the unique position of having served the community he was born and grew up in.  Throughout this episodes, you'll learn how that informs his perspective.Buffalo Water Website: https://buffalowater.org/Buffalo Sewer Authority Website: https://buffalosewer.org/Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/ Aquasight Website: https://aquasight.io/