Salman Husaini, Associate Engineer, Mountain View Public Services Division
Salman Husaini, Associate Engineer, Mountain View Public Services Division
As a boy growing up in the South Bay Area, Salman Husaini enjoyed building things. He appreciated their tangibility and the opportunity to bring them to life. That led him to study civil engineering at San José State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2015 and a master’s in 2016. But he had no idea then about recycled water, the field he now enjoys.
After college, Husaini joined the City of San José and then moved to Mountain View in 2019.
“My responsibilities at San José were related to stormwater management and capital projects,” he says.
But now, as an associate engineer with the Mountain View Public Services Division, he is what he calls “the recycled water guy.” He is responsible for managing all aspects of the city’s recycled water program, including reviewing recycled water plans, providing guidance to the profession and the public regarding recycled water requirements, and helping the city and clients comprehend the maze of state and federal regulations relating to recycled water.
Mountain View, along with Palo Alto and other surrounding agencies, sends its wastewater to the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant through an intergovernmental agreement. Recycled water is returned to Mountain View for distribution to customers for reuse. Clients include high-tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Intuit, which use the water for irrigation, toilets, urinal flushing, and cooling.
Husaini’s job is to make sure the end-users are following the ever-changing regulations, practicing reuse sustainably, and designing systems that—as he puts it—”are safe for everybody.”
“Salman has demonstrated commitment and outstanding proficiency in managing the city’s recycled water program,” said his nominator, Jason Chou, a senior civil engineer at Mountain View. “In addition to his core duties, Salman has emerged as a leader within the department. He has taken on the role of project manager for several of the city’s capital improvement projects, notably the North Bayshore Recycled Water Tank Siting Study, which is important to our overall distribution plan.
“He has represented the city in pivotal discussions with state agencies and local jurisdictions. He ensures that all private development recycling facilities adhere to city and state guidelines. He’s an effective communicator, conducting supervisory training workshops. He listens and represents the city with clarity and efficiency.”
Husaini’s enthusiasm for his work is evident when he thinks of his future. He says he plans to stay with his current job. “It’s fun to be part of an emerging trend in the water industry,” he says.
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