Eric Lee Named Next Water and Sewer Department Director

1/11/2023

Eric Lee will serve as the next director of the City’s Water and Sewer Department effective immediately.  

Lee, who has been serving as the Operations Administrative Manager for the Water and Sewer Department, will initially serve concurrently with current director Clayton Edwards until his retirement in February.  

“I am excited to announce Eric Lee as the next Director of Water and Sewer for the City of Tulsa,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “Eric has a strong track record of leadership during his decades of service to the citizens of Tulsa. I know he will do a great job of leading the team that Tulsans rely on for the water they use every day.” 

Lee will be in charge of managing the City’s water and wastewater systems while overseeing nearly 700 employees, the third largest department in the City. 

“I am honored to continue serving the citizens of Tulsa in this new and exciting role,” Lee said. “Protecting public health through reliable, safe, quality water and sewer services is the foundation for our City and quality of life for our citizens. I look forward to carrying on the leadership provided by current Director Clayton Edwards for the last 21 years.” 

Lee has served at the City of Tulsa his entire professional career, having been with been with the City for more than 27 years. Lee started work at the City in 1995 as a Water Design Engineer. He then served as a Mainline Operations Manager and a Utility Systems Manager before becoming Solid Waste Manager in 2008. Lee then moved to the leadership role in the Water & Sewer Department 2013.  

“Eric has been an incredible asset to the Water and Sewer department and Tulsans will be in great hands with him as director,” Edwards said. “While it’s bittersweet to step away from my career at the City, I can’t think of anyone better to lead the department moving forward.” 

Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He holds memberships with the American Water Works Association, the Government Finance Officers Association, and the Southwest Section of American Water Works Association. He is also an active member of the Chair of Oklahoma Municipal Utility Providers (OMUP) Committee for Oklahoma Municipal League, the Strategic Water Alliance on Behalf of OMUP, and the Water Quality Management Advisory Council for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality – Water Division.   

In 2012, Lee was awarded the highest of honors from the City of Tulsa – the Tulsa Blue Award -for his work in implementing Tulsa’s new trash system. He has also been recognized with the City Star Safety Award (2016), the Glen T. Kellogg Leadership Award (2021), and the George Warren Fuller Award (2022).