Leading Utilities of the World welcomed its two newest members into the network at Weftec 2025, which took place in Chicago from 27th September to 1st October.

Both from the US, its newest members are:

• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (represented by President Kari K. Steele)

• Austin Water (represented by Deputy Director for Technical Services Randi Jenkins)

The newest utilities gave presentations on the innovations that have made them worthy of membership at our inauguration session before being awarded the Golden Tap trophy by Leading Utilities Chair Howard Neukrug. They bring the total number of members in the network to 82.

On becoming a new member, Randi Jenkins said:

“We may come from different corners of the world, but we’re all in the same business—protecting public health, stewarding natural resources, and building trust with the communities we serve. That’s no small task, and it’s one we don’t take lightly. At Austin Water, we believe that resilience isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about people, partnerships, and the courage to plan for a future we can’t fully predict. Whether it’s through long-range planning, smart metering, or community-driven solutions, we’re proud to be part of a global utility family that’s rising to meet the moment. Thank y’all for letting me share a little bit of Texas with you today. Let’s keep learning from each other—and let’s keep pushing this industry forward, together.”

As well as the inauguration session, Leading Utilities also hosted an invite-only workshop on the topic of Water & Industry, a site visit to Stickney Water Reclamation Plant and a networking dinner. We were joined in Chicago by representatives from the Exchange for Ukraine programme - a Leading Utilities of the World initiative, in partnership with Mykolaiv Water Hub - serving to help Ukraine’s water sector in rebuilding and modernising.

With the ongoing support of its foundation partner Jacobs, as well as corporate member Grundfos, Leading Utilities' next event will be the Global Water Summit 2026, taking place in Madrid from 18th to 20th May.