The City of Hutto has a new director of public works. Rick Coronado joined Team Hutto in March after 28 years with the City of Austin Water Utility, including nearly a decade as the chief operating officer.
In his new role with the City of Hutto, Coronado will provide leadership and administrative direction on major public works activities, including street and drainage maintenance, water and wastewater line maintenance, fleet management, facility maintenance, infrastructure improvements and construction inspection.
Coronado brings a wealth of knowledge to Hutto after serving in various roles for the City of Austin Water Utility since 1995. He served as the Utility’s chief operating officer and assistant director of operations and maintenance since 2013, overseeing all operational business units that provided core and support services for water production, storage and distribution, wastewater collection, treatment and recycling. He maintained a budget of approximately $160 million and oversaw over 800 employees.
Prior to joining Austin Water’s executive team, Coronado served as the utility’s pump stations and reservoir maintenance division distribution manager from 2007-2013. In that role, he managed the infrastructure for water storage, pump stations, remote drinking water treatment plants, and reclaimed water services. He coordinated operations, maintenance, and security efforts at the Water Distribution Control Center to ensure system pressure, fire flow, and water quality goals were achieved in a 24/7 work environment.
He also spent 12 years as the process engineer for both the Davis Water Treatment Plant and Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, each serving about 50% of the City of Austin’s service area north of the Colorado River. He began his professional career with Austin Water as an intern in 1995 after graduating from the University of Texas with a bachelor of science in civil engineering.
Coronado earned his Texas Professional Engineering license in 2004 and his Texas Commission on Environmental Equality Class A Water Operator license in 2007. He is a member of the American Water Works Association.