Ted Corrigan, the general manager and CEO of Des Moines Water Works, will retire after 35 years, the utility announced today.

Corrigan’s retirement will be effective July 18.

He served as interim CEO for more than a year before being hired in the role officially in June 2020.

In a news release, Corrigan said he’s been honored to work for and lead “an organization as storied as Des Moines Water Works.”

“Our team has always been up to the challenge, and I’m proud of all that has been accomplished. I specifically want to thank the dedicated members of the Water Works team who answer the call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure our customers have the water they depend upon for their daily lives,” he said.

During his tenure as CEO and general manager, Corrigan navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, led the utility’s strategic planning initiative, and was a leader in negotiations that led to the creation of Central Iowa Water Works, the regional drinking water utility that began operation Jan. 1.

Under his leadership, Des Moines Water Works received the Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Management from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, which recognizes the highest level of excellence in managing and operating a water utility.

Andrea Boulton, Des Moines Water Works board chair, said Corrigan is leaving a legacy to the region with his accomplishments and dedication to the industry.

“But, to us, Ted has been a steady hand guiding the utility while still making space for new policies and programs that have made DMWW a trusted and respected organization, both as an employer and a business,” she said in the release.

Corrigan has been with Des Moines Water Works since 1990, and helped lead recovery efforts following the floods of 1993. He also helped design and oversee projects that included two new water treatment facilities, deep aquifer storage wells, the construction of miles of transmission and water distribution lines and the Water Works Park Master Plan, which culminated with the construction of the Lauridsen Amphitheater.

In 2020, he was awarded the American Water Works Association-Iowa Section’s George Warren Fuller Award for distinguished service and leadership in the water supply field.

According to the release, the Des Moines Water Works board will begin recruitment for a new CEO at its meeting Tuesday.