ReWa CEO Joel Jones announces retirement, Rebecca West named next CEO

Jones began career as an operator trainee at ReWa

Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) Chief Executive Officer Joel H. Jones has announced his plans to retire from his position on April 30 and the utility’s board has named Chief Operating Officer Rebecca West its next CEO.

Jones began his water industry career at ReWa in 1993 and has served as CEO since 2022.

“Joel has given much of his career to ReWa, and he has made contributions and decisions that have benefitted countless people across our region,” said Emily DeRoberts, chair of the ReWa Board of Commissioners. “He has not only demonstrated a passion for the water industry, environment and the Upstate community, but he has also ensured that ReWa does its part to support employees in becoming the best versions of themselves, not just for ReWa, but for our larger community and their families.”

Joel H. Jones

Under Jones’ leadership, ReWa embraced a culture of continuous improvement to empower employees and create processes that have improved safety, resiliency and efficiency. Jones also championed the development of the utility’s Water Innovation Campus, which has repurposed historic buildings, acres of natural habitat and publicly accessible trails to expand opportunities for ReWa to better educate the community about its mission, work and the environment.

“ReWa will always be part of me,” Jones said. “I have been given tremendous opportunities and learned valuable lessons from the people in my career. I’ve also made lifelong friends. I am truly blessed. I’m grateful to have spent most of my career with ReWa, and I appreciate the dedicated and talented people across this utility, and the water industry, who contribute to the Upstate being a special place to live.”

Jones began his career at ReWa as a night-shift operator trainee after graduating from Clemson University. He served in various capacities at ReWa before accepting a position at Spartanburg Water as reclaimed water operations manager in 2002. In 2012, he returned to ReWa and served in many key roles, including chief technical officer and chief operating officer, before being named CEO.

West also began her career at ReWa.

“We are fortunate that we didn’t have to look far to find the most qualified candidate to become ReWa’s next CEO,” DeRoberts said. “Rebecca West understands ReWa and the communities we serve while having a wealth of experience and a passion for serving the Upstate.”

Rebecca West

West has more than 35 years of water industry experience on the international, national, state, regional and local levels. She served as chief operating officer at Greenville Water and Spartanburg Water before eventually returning to ReWa in 2023.

West served as a trustee on the Water Environment Federation (WEF) board before becoming its president in 2009. WEF is a technical and educational organization representing water professionals worldwide. She was also named delegation leader of Water Quality Professionals to South Africa in 2010.

“Our utility has always valued its role as a community partner while being innovative and unafraid of a good challenge,” West said. “It’s special witnessing that commitment in each member of our team as we continue to demonstrate an even greater commitment to safeguarding our waterways and supporting public health.”

West, who is a biologist, started her career as a lab analyst at ReWa. She was also instrumental in starting the utility’s biosolids program, which is a nationally recognized and longstanding ReWa program that supports Upstate farmers.

About Renewable Water Resources (ReWa)

Since 1925, Renewable Water Resources (ReWa) has been committed to providing high-quality wastewater services to the Upstate of South Carolina while providing a cleaner environment, protecting public health and sustaining our community. With nine water resource recovery facilities and more than 430 miles of pipe, we serve a broad geographic area, including Greenville County and portions of Anderson, Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. Each day an estimated 44 million gallons of water passes through our trunk lines and reclamation facilities before being cleaned and returned to our area rivers and streams.