Leading with Purpose: How Veolia and Joe Tackett Are Reinventing Water Management—and Good Government

When most people turn on the tap, they don’t stop to think about the system behind that clean, drinkable water. But for Joe Tackett, CEO of Municipal Water Contract Operations at Veolia, that’s all he thinks about. In a wide-ranging conversation on The Good Government Show with Dave Martin, Tackett shared how Veolia is helping governments across the globe—and across the U.S.—keep water safe, costs low, and communities thriving.

“Our sole purpose in life is to ensure folks have safe, clean drinking water,” said Tackett. “And that when water leaves a wastewater plant, it returns to the river cleaner than it came in.”

Veolia manages 200+ municipal water and wastewater systems in North America, drawing on global expertise from 50 countries and pioneering technologies like Hubgrade—a real-time data and AI platform that predicts infrastructure failures before they happen. With nearly half the water workforce set to retire within five years, Veolia is also investing in next-generation training, robotic inspections, and workforce development partnerships from high school to college.

“We’re not just a contractor—we’re a partner,” Tackett said. “We share the risks and rewards with every municipality we serve.”

The results speak volumes. In Atlanta and Fulton County, Veolia has saved millions through smart maintenance and chemical management. In Marshall, Tennessee, the company turned around an aging plant, brought it back into compliance, and helped the city avoid painful rate hikes. Tackett is clear on the bottom line: public-private partnerships done right are not a cost—they’re a savings.

“Good government means giving cities the tools they need to succeed—and we’re proud to be part of that mission.”

Listen to the full episode here: GoodGovernmentShow.com