While hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage accumulated in its pipes, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority was focused on diversity, equity and other left-wing priorities — setting the stage for what may be the largest sewage spill in American history.
DC Water CEO David L. Gadis has championed equity and diversity throughout his tenure. He was also named in a lawsuit against his former employer for allegedly withholding information about water contamination in Flint, Michigan.
Before joining DC Water in 2018, Gadis served as executive vice president of Veolia North America and CEO of Veolia Water Indianapolis — the utility’s first black CEO and the first black executive to lead a major Indianapolis utility, according to his bio. It touts his partnership with municipal leaders and his leadership on diversity initiatives.
That reputation faced scrutiny in 2018. An amended class action lawsuit cited a Veolia statement in which Gadis promised the company would deploy its “technical expertise” to “ensure water quality for the people of the city of Flint,” touting experience with challenging water sources and contaminant management. The suit claims residents had “every reason to rely” on Veolia’s subsequent assurances of safety.
“DC Water hired David Gadis in 2018, even though he was a senior executive at Veolia North America, an engineering firm that later paid $53 million to settle civil claims alleging it contributed to and prolonged Flint’s lead contamination disaster.”