Andrea Cheng

Background

About Andrea Cheng

Water is my passion. After 20+ years in the water and sewer industry in Chicago, I am now getting to share that passion with other communities as a consultant with CDM Smith! I love working on solving the “impossible” water problems by bringing together my experience in operations, research, construction, utility digitization, equity, and transparency. Before joining CDM Smith, I was Commissioner for the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, one of the largest water utilities in the U.S. I worked for the City of Chicago for 20 years. During my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign I interned as an engineer trainee at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. After receiving my BS with Honors in Civil Engineering in 1998, I began my graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin where I worked as a Graduate Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and Laboratory Manager. In 2001, I earned my Masters degree and in 2004 I earned my Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. I have been a member of AWWA since 1997 and have been actively involved in Illinois Section AWWA activities including serving previously as Chair of the Young Professionals Steering Committee, District 2 Trustee, member of the Water Utility Committee, and member of the 2010 and 2016 Annual Conference and Exhibition Local Planning Committees. I have also served as a Board Member and Project Advisory Committee member for the Water Research Foundation. Most recently, I also served as Board Member for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. Specialties: water and sewer utility management, lead and corrosion control, all aspects of LSLR, water efficiency, water metering, advanced treatment processes, PAC/GAC adsorption, emerging contaminants research, legionella testing, and water rate setting. But I wore many hats at the City and managed a variety of different initiative.