High Point Names First Water Resources Director to Guide Infrastructure Planning

High Point named Alison Kraft its first Water Resources Director, creating a new executive-level post to steer the city's water and wastewater planning, capital projects, and long-range infrastructure strategy at a moment when regional decisions about the future of the Piedmont Triad's water supply are coming to a head.

Kraft spent 19 years with the town of Mooresville, a community about 25 miles north of Charlotte, serving most recently as its water resources director. She holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Professional Engineer license. The step up to High Point represents a significant jump in scale. "My background is in utilities. This is another growth opportunity, coming to a municipality that is twice the size of Mooresville," Kraft said.

When it comes to capital planning for public infrastructure, 25 years is not necessarily a long time in the great scheme of things, and that long-horizon mindset runs through the priorities Kraft outlined for her new role. She is guiding conversations aimed at the long-range water and wastewater utility service needs of High Point and the surrounding region, with an eye toward accommodating future growth across Guilford and Randolph counties.

Her arrival coincided with the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority presenting a new study that recommends High Point and several other local governments partner in developing a regional wastewater plant. The authority is seeking to have its regionalization study findings endorsed by High Point and its other members, as well as other localities in Guilford and Randolph counties. Kraft is expected to play a central role in how the city evaluates and responds to that recommendation.

Beyond the regional question, Kraft is getting up to speed on numerous city water and sewer projects already underway and in the planning stages. She found something to build on: the city has for years budgeted money to replace obsolete water and sewer lines as a matter of routine, and Kraft assessed that practice, along with other proactive measures, as giving High Point a solid foundation going forward.

Regulatory pressure will also define a portion of the job. Kraft will help the city navigate emerging contaminant rules in water and wastewater, with PFAS compounds among the specific issues on the table as federal and state regulators tighten standards.

The appointment marks the first time High Point has elevated water and wastewater oversight to a standalone executive director role, a structural signal that the city views long-term infrastructure planning as a priority distinct enough to warrant dedicated leadership at the top of its organizational chart.