Buffalo, N.Y.—Today, Buffalo Sewer Authority announced that General Manager Oluwole (OJ) McFoy, P.E., has accepted the position of city engineer for the City of Houston, Texas, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. McFoy will join Houston Public Works, the largest public
works organization in the nation, with an annual salary of $280,000. He will remain with Buffalo Sewer until January 2025 to ensure a smooth transition.
In his new role, McFoy will oversee all engineering activities for Houston Public Works, which boasts a $3 billion annual operating budget and a workforce of 3,900 employees. His responsibilities will include delivering an $8.2 billion capital improvement program, permitting public and private construction, and managing a $9 billion consent decree. McFoy has been a transformative leader at Buffalo Sewer since joining in 2006. He held key positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Engineer, before being named General Manager in 2015.
Summary of Key Achievements
Economic Impact
- Introduced the Raincheck 2.0 program, which gained national recognition from the American Society
of Landscape Architects. - Successfully developed Buffalo’s Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program, graduating
multiple cohorts, including certified professionals from the National Green Infrastructure
Certification Program. - Saved $145 million by deploying smart sewer AI data and analytics.
Innovative Financing
- Oversaw the issuance of a $50 million Environmental Impact Bond, the largest-ever publicly offered in the U.S., to support clean water initiatives.
- Secured over $125 million in new grants for critical water quality infrastructure improvements.
- Secured over $200 million in subsidized and zero-interest financing, enabling capital investments without burdening ratepayers.
- Successfully petitioned the New York State legislature to double the Authority’s bonding capacity, enabling reconstruction of aging infrastructure.
Public Health
- Launched the $55 million Bird Island Treatment Facility upgrade, the largest project Buffalo Sewer had embarked on in over 40 years, to enhance water quality for Buffalo residents, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
- Reduced combined sewer overflows by an estimated 140 million gallons annually through innovative projects.
- Partnered with a pioneering private company to remove toxic PFAS from received landfill leachate.
National Leadership
- As a nationally recognized, award-winning leader in the water sector, McFoy testified before Congress, advocating for Building Back Better and the need for federal water infrastructure investment.
- Served as Chair of the Board for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the U.S. Water Alliance.
- Secured recognition for Buffalo’s water equity efforts through national platforms like the U.S. Water Alliance and National League of Cities.
- Brought the prestigious NACWA Annual Utility Leadership Conference to the City of Buffalo in 2024, spotlighting the city’s water infrastructure innovations on a national stage and bringing over $800,000 into the community through commerce and tourism.
Awards
- 2024 Water Environment Federation – Arthur Sidney Bidell Award for Exemplary Personal Service
- 2022 WaterNow Alliance – Impact Award
- 2021 New York Water Environment Association – Emmeline Moore Award for Significant Impact in Water
- 2021 New England Water Environment Association – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
- 2020 American Society for Public Administration – Excellence in Government Administration
- 2019 American Public Works Association – Charles W. Nichols Award for Outstanding and Meritorious Achievements
“We are incredibly grateful for OJ’s dedicated service and the transformative impact he has had in the City of Buffalo,” said Herbert L. Bellamy, Buffalo Sewer Board Chair. “His leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence have positioned Buffalo Sewer as a leader in the industry, creating 3,000 jobs and $205 million in economic impact while investing nearly $32 million in minority and women business enterprises. Although we will miss his expertise and character, we are excited for him as he embarks on this new chapter in his career.”
In addition to his professional achievements at Buffalo Sewer, McFoy has been a champion for the community through his volunteer board service. He serves as Board Chair of Buffalo Water, is on the Board of Trustees at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, is a Board Member of the Community of Giving Legacy Initiative, and is on the Steering Committee of the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund.
“It has been a privilege to serve the Buffalo community and lead the dedicated team at Buffalo Sewer,” said McFoy. “I am immensely proud of the progress we have achieved together and confident that Buffalo Sewer will continue to excel in delivering exceptional service to its customers.”
The Buffalo Sewer Authority thanks McFoy for his 19 years of dedicated service to the City of Buffalo.