Radhika Fox to join the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of U.S. Water Alliance Chief Executive Officer Radhika Fox as the principal deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Water. Radhika is a day one presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration. She will serve as the acting assistant administrator for water.

Mami Hara, chair of the U.S. Water Alliance Board of Directors, said “The board of directors and staff at the U.S. Water Alliance applaud President Biden for selecting Radhika for this important role at the EPA. Radhika has been a visionary leader at the U.S. Water Alliance for the last five years, and she is the right leader to guide our nation’s water program at this uniquely volatile and critical time. Radhika brings a deep commitment to equity and inclusion in all that she does. She is also an expert consensus builder on complex environmental issues. We are excited for her to take on this even bigger and broader role in the water sector.”

“It is an incredible honor and privilege to be selected by President Biden to serve our country,” said Fox. “I am proud to join the EPA team of dedicated career professionals who have a long-standing commitment to protect public health and the environment. Water policy and investments can be a force for addressing the four compounding crises facing our nation — the global pandemic, economic recovery, racial equity and the climate crisis. I stand ready to support this administration as we Build Back Better for every American.”

“The U.S. Water Alliance is in great hands with a talented team of water professionals and top-notch board of directors. I am so proud of what we have done together to advance the One Water movement,” Fox concluded. “With our dynamic member network, the U.S. Water Alliance has forged positive change on critical issues facing the water sector — COVID-19 response and recovery, the value of water, infrastructure investment, integrated water management, equity, climate change and so much more. The U.S. Water Alliance is poised for growth and will only increase its impact in the water sector in the coming years.”

Last year, the International Code Council partnered with the U.S. Water Alliance and the Value of Water Campaign in promoting the adoption and implementation of strong plumbing codes and sustainability standards that address water quality, sanitation, safe water reuse methods and efficiency as well as encourage the necessary investment in aging water infrastructure.

“We’re thrilled that the International Code Council [was] a part of Imagine a Day Without Water. This national day of action educates our neighbors and public officials about the essential role water plays in all our lives,” said Fox. “It showed us the critical importance of water service to safeguard public health and the economy. But the infrastructure and service it takes to bring water to our homes and businesses and take it away is not free and can’t be taken for granted. We all need to educate ourselves about where our water comes from and the investment these critical systems need.”

Fox was also a keynote speaker for the Code Council’s Global Connections Day on Oct. 19, 2016, which focused on the challenges presented by the evolutionary process toward sustainability by assessing its impact on the role of building codes, standards and regulations in the global as-built marketplace.

Fox has more than 20 years of experience in developing policies, programs, and issue-based advocacy campaigns. Prior to joining the U.S. Water Alliance, she directed the policy and government affairs agenda for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which is responsible for providing 24/7 water, wastewater, and municipal power services to 2.6 million Bay Area residents. She also served as the Federal Policy Director at PolicyLink, where she coordinated the organization’s policy agenda on a wide range of issues, including infrastructure investment, transportation, sustainable communities, economic inclusion, and workforce development. She holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of California at Berkeley where she was a HUD Community Development Fellow.