For more than three decades, Doug Kaupp has quietly shaped how water is managed, protected, and valued across southern Alberta. In a region where drought, low river flows, and competing demands place constant pressure on water systems, his work has helped ensure that communities, industries, and ecosystems can continue to rely on a safe and sustainable supply.
Doug began his career as a process engineer at the City of Lethbridge’s wastewater treatment plant, eventually becoming General Manager of Water and Wastewater. Along the way, he led major infrastructure upgrades, introduced new technologies, and upheld some of the highest environmental standards in the province. Under his leadership, the city consistently delivered safe drinking water to more than 130,000 people while returning cleaner water to the Oldman River and improving system efficiency.
Beyond his formal role, Doug’s impact extends across the watershed. He has spent decades collaborating with municipalities, watershed organizations, and provincial partners, helping shape long-term water management plans that are still in use today. Whether contributing to basin-wide policy, advising decision-makers, or volunteering on the ground through restoration and stewardship efforts, he has always approached water as a shared responsibility.
His legacy can be seen in the strength of the systems he helped build, the partnerships he fostered, and the communities that continue to depend on the water he worked to protect.
