Steven M. Clouse, San Antonio Water System’s chief operating officer and the namesake of our city’s largest water recycling center, died in August. He was 66.
Throughout his nearly 40 years at SAWS, Clouse was instrumental in making it the world-class utility it is today.
He guided the organization through the unimaginable COVID-19 pandemic, an extreme winter storm that paralyzed most of the state, and ongoing drought challenges not seen since the 1950s. And he was the visionary behind SAWS’ “environmental trifecta” — making San Antonio the first in the nation to recycle all its sewage treatment byproducts including water, biosolids and methane gas.
From the 1980s when he worked as a water sample collector to 2008 when he was named chief operating officer, Clouse developed deep knowledge of water quality, treatment technology, and water chemistry, making him the ideal leader to bring new water supplies to our city.
“He oversaw 13 water projects from seven different sources that keep our community thriving,” said SAWS CEO Robert R. Puente, adding that Steve “made me a better CEO.”
Clouse retired in 2022 after selflessly serving SAWS for a second time as COO.