Celebrating Retiring Members – Spring 2026

Laura Wing, Senior Water Resources Administrator, City of Thornton Colorado

Celebrating 32 years contributing to Water Efficiency and Conservation

Congratulations to Laura Wing on her 32-year career dedicated to serving Thornton’s water customers! Thanks to Laura’s vision and execution, Thornton residents are some of the most water efficient residents across the state. Under her leadership, Thornton’s popular and successful Water Efficiency Program has resulted in a 30% reduction in per person water use since 2002.

After several years working in Thornton’s Water Quality Lab, Laura joined the Water Resources Division in 2002 as a Water Resources Analyst. In 2005, Laura dove into the water conservation pool and never looked back. Laura has been a member of the Colorado WaterWise Board of Directors since 2006, helping to establish Thornton as a regional leader in water conservation. Laura received multiple city awards in her career, including Thornton Employee of the Year in 2010 and the Infrastructure Department Employee of the Year in 2021.

Laura set and achieved a high bar for her work, and she is known and appreciated by her colleagues for her compassion, thoroughness, commitment and humor.

Arthur Hinojosa, PE, Regional Assistance Division Manager, California Department of Water Resources

Celebrating 10 years contributing to Water Efficiency and Conservation

Arthur Hinojosa’s leadership and enduring contributions make him exceptionally deserving of recognition by the Alliance for Water Efficiency for a career devoted to advancing conservation and sustainable water management.

Throughout his 35-year career, Arthur Hinojosa has advanced innovative policies, technical guidance, and partnerships that have significantly elevated the role of efficiency as a cornerstone of water reliability.

Art oversees multiple branches and Region Offices, including the Water Use Efficiency Branch (WUE), leading statewide efforts to improve water use efficiency, strengthen drought resilience, and embed long-term conservation practices into California’s water management framework.

Under his leadership, DRA has advanced billions of dollars of financial assistance supporting local and regional water use efficiency and conservation projects, data and research, and tools for helping to transform water use efficiency from a reactive drought response to durable and data-driven framework.

Respected for his collaborative approach and deep institutional knowledge, Art’s career reflects a steadfast dedication to fostering strong partnerships among state agencies, water suppliers, and professional organizations, strengthening California’s collective capacity to continue to navigate difficult challenges

Christopher Hassert, PE, Water Resources Director, City of Mesa, AZ

Celebrating 30 years contributing to Water Efficiency and Conservation

Christopher Hassert has dedicated more than four decades of his professional life to advancing water engineering, sustainability, and public service — with the last 10 years serving the City of Mesa where his leadership has transformed how water is managed, conserved, and reused across the community.

Under Chris’s stewardship, Mesa has launched or advanced several landmark water efficiency, reuse, and infrastructure initiatives that will serve residents and the region well into the future:

Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline (CMRP)

Chris led Mesa’s effort to design and construct the 10.5-mile Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline, a major reclaimed water conveyance project that maximizes beneficial reuse by delivering treated effluent from the Northwest Water Reclamation Plant to long-term reuse or exchange opportunities, bolstering the city’s diversified water portfolio and reducing reliance on potable supplies.

Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant Expansion

Under his direction, Mesa advanced a significant expansion of the Signal Butte Water Treatment Plant, including completion of a new 8-million-gallon potable reservoir and infrastructure enhancements that will ultimately double treatment capacity to meet future growth demands. Chris emphasized innovation, resiliency, and long-term operational efficiency in this multi-phase project.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Deployment

Chris championed Citywide deployment of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), replacing all legacy meters with smart, high-accuracy meters. This effort has significantly improved meter accuracy, enabled near-real-time usage analytics, and reduced unaccounted-for water, a major contributor to both efficiency and conservation goals.

Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant Enhancements

During his tenure, Mesa pursued strategic capacity and reliability enhancements for the Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant, supporting population growth and improving wastewater treatment performance for reuse and environmental stewardship.

Beyond individual projects, Chris’s leadership has helped shape Mesa’s 100-year water supply planning, integrate water reuse into regional water management, and further align operations with conservation goals, often in the face of growth pressures, climate variability, and regulatory challenges.

Throughout his career, Chris has been a collaborative leader, mentor to emerging professionals, and a force for elevating the technical and operational standards of municipal water management. His work has strengthened Mesa’s water infrastructure while promoting efficiency, sustainability, and resilience, a legacy well worth recognition by AWE.