Living Water Award 2026 Nominee

Andrea McElroy

Director, Veolia Water Quality Laboratory, Veolia

Andrea, Laboratory Director for Veolia Water New Jersey, is nominated for her transformational leadership in modernizing laboratory operations serving two million residents. Under her guidance, the Haworth Lab became the first certified utility facility in New Jersey to adopt Tecta analysis technology, reducing total coliform and E. coli testing times from 24 hours down to just 2 to 18 hours, which dramatically accelerates critical boil water advisories. Andrea is also spearheading strategic initiatives to bring complex lead, copper and PFAS testing in-house, a capability unmatched by other utilities in the state. Her proactive, cross-functional approach to weekly water quality reviews prevents issues before they reach consumers, and she actively volunteers her expertise to advance public health standards across the broader water industry.