Committee hears goals for incoming Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility general manager David Persinger

David Persinger, nominee for general manager of the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWU), outlined a strategic plan focused on securing water rights, improving financial and operational processes and developing utility staff during a Feb. 28 confirmation hearing before municipal committee members.

Persinger, who has worked at AWU for nearly two decades and currently serves as assistant general manager, said his vision is “steady leadership with clear initiatives” and described a four-part strategic framework that includes community sustainability, financial viability, operational optimization and employee and leadership development.

Persinger said the plan will adopt the Effective Utility Management framework, a national approach supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to help AWU benchmark performance and use data more effectively. He told the committee AWU serves about 300,000 people daily and that security and regulatory compliance are priorities: “We operate some of the most critical facilities in Alaska,” he said, adding the utility works with federal partners on cybersecurity and isolates operational technology systems to limit external connectivity.

Committee questions focused on security and on-the-ground operational issues. Committee member Hannah Brawley thanked Persinger for stepping into the role and asked about cybersecurity and material theft; Persinger said AWU has network monitoring, work with the EPA and Department of Homeland Security, and that while break-ins at the Kingstree operations campus have resulted in stolen tools, the utility has not seen copper theft in its system.

Persinger reviewed additional priorities including updating master and facility plans, improving budgeting and procurement processes in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget and purchasing, modernizing an outdated customer information system, and expanding affordability programs to support housing policy goals. He emphasized workforce succession planning and simplified mission and values statements for the utility.

No formal confirmation vote was taken during the hearing. Committee members offered Persinger the option to be sworn in on the dais at the committee’s Tuesday meeting to secure the seven votes the committee expects; Persinger accepted the offer. The committee did not record a formal outcome during the session.

Background: Persinger described professional credentials and experience, noting he began at AWU as a UAA civil engineering intern, has served in operations and treatment roles and has been active in industry organizations, including the Alaska Water/Wastewater Management Association and the American Water Works Association. He said AWU’s strategic work had been delayed and that finalizing and implementing the plan is a near-term priority.

The hearing lasted about 20 minutes and featured introductions by committee members and a brief administrative briefing by Deputy Municipal Manager Mark Spafford, who introduced Persinger on behalf of the mayor.