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New executive role unifies leadership for Portland’s Environmental Services and Water bureaus, with Dr. Lu leading integrated drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater services for nearly one million customers.
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The City of Portland today announced the appointment of Dr. Ting Lu, P.E., as the City's first Director of Public Utilities, following a competitive national recruitment. This marks an historic step in the City's One Water initiative, placing both the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services under a single director for the first time in the City's history. The Director of Public Utilities role was created to strengthen coordination across drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater systems and support integrated planning, investment, and to ensure reliable, affordable service for Portlanders.
Dr. Lu currently serves as the Interim Director of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services, overseeing more than 650 employees and an annual budget exceeding $650 million. She brings nearly two decades of leadership and professional experience across public utilities, utilities consulting, and academic institutions, including work in Portland, Clean Water Services, and the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati. Her background includes leading large, multidisciplinary teams in complex utility environments, with expertise spanning regulatory compliance, integrated planning, engineering, capital delivery, and utility operations.
"Dr. Lu's appointment is a watershed moment for Portland," said Mayor Keith Wilson. "Her leadership and vision will unify our utilities and advance the City's One Water initiative. With her at the helm, we are moving forward as a high‑performing organization—delivering reliable, affordable, and resilient services for all Portlanders."
Across her career, Dr. Lu has worked closely with labor partners to strengthen labor-management collaboration, advanced equitable and climate-resilient service delivery, championed data-informed decision-making, and advocated for effective utility management practices locally and nationally. She is nationally recognized for her utility leadership and has held leadership roles in national water organizations, including the Water Environment Federation, the Water Research Foundation, and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. She has contributed more than 100 publications and presentations that advance industry best practices in the water sector.
"Dr. Lu has the ample experience and steady hand needed to guide this new chapter for Portland," said Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney. "She's been a pleasure for City Council to work with, and I'm excited for her to get to know her new City employees and to bring these two teams together."
Dr. Lu will begin her role on January 2, 2026, overseeing both bureaus, which together include a combined workforce of more than 1,200 employees with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion.
"It's a privilege to step into this role as Portland's first Public Utilities Director," said Dr. Lu. " I'm deeply grateful for our dedicated employees across both bureaus and the strong foundation we have built over the decades. My focus is on supporting our teams and ensuring our community continues to receive safe, reliable, and affordable services as we advance Portland's One Water vision."
"Our utility workforce is the backbone of the essential services Portlanders depend on every day," said Deputy City Administrator for Public Works, Priya Dhanapal. "Dr. Lu brings deep experience and steady, collaborative leadership to oversee both bureaus and support our workforce as we advance the City's One Water vision."