Water Utilities Association of Arizona Names New Executive Director

PHOENIX, ARIZONA--(Marketwired - Jan. 12, 2015) - The Water Utilities Association of Arizona (WUAA) today named Ray Jones as Executive Director of the state's largest association of private, regulated water and wastewater utilities.

"Private water companies have an important place in Arizona's water industry," said Troy Day, president of the Water Utilities Association of Arizona and Vice President of Operations for EPCOR Water (USA), Inc. "Ray Jones brings a deep understanding of Arizona's water industry, and the needs of private utilities, to WUAA, and we are extremely pleased to have his leadership as the future of Arizona's water policies are explored."

Jones brings three decades of commitment to Arizona's water industry to his new role with the Water Utilities Association of Arizona.

In 2004 Jones founded ARICOR Water Solutions, providing water, wastewater and water resources strategy master planning, facility design, project management and regulatory expertise for both the private and public sector. Prior to ARICOR, Jones served as president of Arizona-American Water Company and as Vice President and General Manager of Arizona Operations for Citizens Water Resources.

"There are approximately 325 private water companies serving water and wastewater customers across the state of Arizona - from remote outposts to highly urbanized communities," said Ray Jones. "It is vital that they, and the customers that they serve, have an active voice in the discussions about Arizona's water policies and I am very pleased to be joining WUAA in that role."

Jones is currently on the Board of Directors for the Greater Maricopa Foreign Trade Zone and previously served as Chairman of WESTMARC. He has served as an advisory member of the state's Water Resources Development Commission, on the Technical Committee to the Governor's Water Management Commission and as co-chair of WESTMARC's Water Committee.

An active member of the American Society of Professional Engineers, the American Water Works Association, the Arizona Water Association and the Water Environment Federation, Jones holds a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas.

Founded in 1961, WUAA is a non-profit association representing Arizona's private, regulated water and wastewater utilities. With a regular membership of approximately 50 privately owned water companies, serving over one million Arizona residents, WUAA is dedicated to supporting regulatory policies that promote investment in Arizona's water industry, encourage sustainable water resource management, and protect the needs of Arizona's private water systems.