Dr. Andrea Cheng, PE
“I love watching a resident realize that the utility personnel, contractors and consultants they see working on a project actually do care, contrary to the stereotype, and are often fellow residents from their city too,” says Andrea Cheng, principal and management specialist at CDM Smith.
Joining with over two decades of industry experience, Andrea is an expert in drinking water, specializing in water quality, lead corrosion and lead service line replacement (LSLR), activated carbon adsorption, water meters and water and sewer utility management with a focus on the digitization of business processes.
As a prior commissioner for the Department of Water Management (DWM) for the city of Chicago, Andrea and her team at DWM joined forces with CDM Smith to bring Chicago’s first LSLR program to life, replacing 4,500 lines by the end of 2023. Andrea is most proud of the Equity LSLR program. It focused on low-income homeowners, prioritized families with young kids, and used an unconventional funding source of Community Development Block Grants.
“With CDM Smith’s reputation as the #1 provider of lead testing, corrosion control and lead service line replacement programs, I know I will be able to hit the ground running here. I love a good challenge and CDM Smith will allow me to continue to focus on solving ‘impossible’ water challenges,” Andrea says.
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I love a good challenge and CDM Smith will allow me to continue to focus on solving ‘impossible’ water challenges.
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