November 2025 Vol. 80 No. 11
Features
SAWS’ Jeff Habey to be honored as 2026 MVP
(UI) - Jeffey J. Haby, senior vice president of production operations at San Antonio Water System (SAWS), who successfully led the SAWS Consent Decree Program for the past 12 years, will be formally honored at a special luncheon on Jan. 27, 2026, at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to his widespread praise as a member of the Texas sewer and water industries, Haby was a founder of the South Texas Chapter of the Underground Construction Technology Association (UCTA) and served as co-president.
The luncheon will headline The Awards program held in conjunction with the annual Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC). The award is co-sponsored by UCTA and Underground Infrastructure magazine.
Robert Carpenter, editor-in-chief of Underground Infrastructure magazine, and Justin Reeves, P.E., Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc., and UCTA National President, recently made the announcement on behalf of UCTA and the magazine.
“We are thrilled to present this preeminent honor to Jeff (Haby) for all his efforts in promoting the advancement and success of the underground infrastructure industry,” said Carpenter. “I was privileged to serve with Jeff on the first board of directors for the South Texas UCTA chapter. His drive, professionalism and vision were critical in the establishment and tremendous success that this chapter has enjoyed.”
SAWS is a municipally owned utility with over 1,800 employees and approximately $1 billion in annual revenue. He is responsible for SAWS’ daily water production, which serves 2.2 million people in the seventh-largest city in the country. Past responsibilities have included wastewater treatment, lift stations, chilled water, fleet, security, and facilities.
Haby earned his promotion to vice president when he successfully completed the consent decree negotiations with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which resulted in the Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reduction Program. He then spearheaded compliance with the Consent Decree requirements which includes development and execution of a strategic asset management plan and design and construction of numerous multi-million-dollar infrastructure capital improvement projects over a 12-year period, with a cost of $1.2 billion.
Haby is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Science and master’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University. He was a founding member of the Hill Country Chapter of Water Environment Federation, as well as UCTA-South Texas. Haby has earned recognition for his leadership in the water utility industry throughout his career receiving:
- Water Environment Association of Texas Arthur Sidney Bedell Award
- Distinguished Member Award from the South Texas Chapter of the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association of Texas
- Water Environment Association of Texas Sidney L. Allison Award
- Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers J. Walter Porter Memorial Fund Fellowship Award
- James C. Nagle Fellowship.
In addition to his relentless passion for the engineering profession and his genuine desire to provide the finest water service to the people in the Bexar County region, Haby is an avid cattle rancher and a loyal Aggie. He is married to Lauren, and they have a son Jake and a daughter Neely.
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