There are many words to describe Cathy Bailey. She is kind and resourceful. She has impeccable fashion taste and she is extremely smart. However, in talking with her over Zoom and in person, it’s easy to see the impetus behind Ms. Bailey’s actions is her fervent dedication to her community. A 28-year veteran of Greater Cincinnati Water Works, she has proven over the years that she is a civil servant to all of Cincinnati. We sat down to learn more about her commitment to her community, her desire to strengthen race relations, and her absolute obsession with Cincinnati water!

Interview by Blaire Bartish. Photography by Heather Colley.

Can you briefly explain your role at Greater Cincinnati Water Works?

I’m the executive director of Greater Cincinnati Water Works. I’m very proud to be the first female director and the first African American director of the independent utility. We provide water to about 1.1 million customers in the region. I lead a team of 600 to make sure that happens.

How big exactly is the region you serve? Is it more than just the city limits?

In just Cincinnati, it’s about 300,000 residents. But we serve about 1.1 million customers, so we serve into other counties, like Butler and Warren. We have a [place] where we take a pipe under the Ohio River and serve water to Boone and Florence in Kentucky. We also serve up to Lebanon, so we really serve the whole region. And in some cases, we’re on standby for other areas. They might have their own small water utility, but we’re on standby if they need additional support. And then we have some unique situations as well. We are the call center and bill provider for Alexandria, Virginia. So if you have a question on your bill in Virginia, you talk to someone here in Cincinnati. That situation is very unique to us, but we like it!

Do you find your job stressful?

I really don’t! I think it ebbs and flows. Something might pop up for a bit, and that might be stressful. But the region has an amazing team here. And because of that, it’s not as stressful as it could be. This is an exceptional water cluster we have here in Cincinnati, plus all types of experts, like the U.S. E.P.A. in Clifton. They’re the drinking water expert hub. That helps it not be as stressful as it could be.

Sometimes we try to be what other people want us to be, but it’s important that we are *our authentic selves. I encourage people to take me as I am.***

If there’s anything that's really stressful to me, it’s that I wish we could do more. We have plenty of challenges in the water utility industry, but one that’s been weighing on me a lot recently is affordability. That was [an issue even] before the pandemic. How can we get more people to afford their water service, their storm water service, or their sewer service? Now in the midst of the pandemic, I think a lot about what solutions we can bring forward that will help more people get through this.

What has changed at Greater Cincinnati Water Works since you started as executive director five years ago?

I see more women that are either encouraged to interview or take promotions; that’s a good thing. We have very authentic conversations that we didn’t have before. We wouldn’t talk about race or gender or our differences. I’ve tried my best to make it a safe environment where people feel comfortable in doing so, because that’s a big part of it. I talk to [the team] about race. I remember a coworker told me one day, “I don’t see race.” I politely told him, “That’s the problem: Because if you don’t see race, you don’t see me. You don’t see who I am; you only see a shell of what you think I should be. You need to see me, and that includes the color of my skin.” And I wasn’t saying it back to him in a nasty way. Just having that dialogue opened up so many things, like then having more conversations so people could start thinking about things like that. And that’s a good thing. We feel more connected; we’re learning about each other. I’m very proud of that.

What memory sticks out the most to you from your time at Greater Cincinnati Water Works?

I’ve been here awhile: 28.5 years. As you can imagine, I have some memories! But I think more recent memories are what stick out to me. We make sure we provide a potable [drinkable] supply of water to the region. But I feel that, in recent years, we’ve gone beyond that and we’ve really tried to figure out how to make more of a positive impact in the community. So I’d say establishing our lead service line replacement program, which we started in 2016. I’d say that’s significant, and it’s definitely a memory that sticks out to me – and certainly one that has not only changed our city, but is also impacting the water utility industry as a whole. Because many other utilities are listening to and watching what we’re doing, and putting programs in place in their cities similar to ours.

What do you see in the future of the utility?

I often tell employees that we are the community. In past practices, we’d come up with a solution we needed, and then we’d just put it out there. And our belief was, “It’s what we’re doing, and if they can get with it, they can, but if they can’t, it’s their problem.” What I’m saying now is that it’s not “their problem” because we are the community. So if the community has a problem, then we have a problem. How are we going to solve it in a way that is helpful for most people, and not just the few who can afford it?

So we’ve been able to look at solutions a lot differently. Our lead service line replacement program was part of that. We put that program together, and we thought it was a good thing. And then we started talking to our customers, and we heard very differently! I remember one focus group: On one side of the room were some young, white male entrepreneurs who were flipping buildings. We explained our program and they said, “Thank you. This program more than exceeds our expectations.” On the other side of the room were some seasoned Black female leaders in their communities; some were first-generation homeowners. And one of them looked me dead in the face, and she said, “So let me get this straight: I’ve done my best to purchase this home many years ago and I’ve tried my hardest to hold onto it. I’m barely holding onto it. Now the city wants to put $365,000 homes next to my property, so my taxes are going up. And now you come along, and you want me to put $5,000 in the ground for a pipe I can’t even see.” That just smacked me in the face!

We have plenty of challenges in the water utility industry, but one that’s been weighing on me a lot recently is affordability.

We went back to the drawing board and came up with a better solution, but that shaped us in many ways. We are trying our best to put in solutions that don’t just help a few, but help many people in our community from all walks of life and of all different colors. We should’ve been doing that years ago. I think the future looks like that. We will see ourselves as bringing forward solutions that help more people than they have in the past. And I think we’ll be a partner in the community.

What do you want Cincinnatians to know about their water?

I want Cincinnatians to know they have some of the best water in the nation! It’s right here – drink up! There are so many parts of the nation that don’t have enough water, or they have trouble treating it, but we don’t have that. You have a gem of a water utility right here in the region, nationally and internationally recognized. We’re extremely proud of that. We’ve been around – we’re the oldest municipal water utility in the state of Ohio – and we have some amazing resources. I want everyone to know what they have here in the region! Use it, and know that it’s safe and healthy. I can’t say enough about it!

What do you want Cincinnatians to know about their city?

I want Cincinnatians to know that we can do better. I mean that in all aspects. We are at a crossroads where we are recognizing that. From my perspective, it’s a tale of two cities. It’s the “White Cincinnati” and the “Black Cincinnati.” How are we going to be THE Cincinnati? How are we going to do better to live together? To make sure there’s more equality so everyone has what they need to thrive? Not survive, but thrive. Now is our time. Let’s seize it, see what we can do, and see who we need to bring to the table. Let’s make it happen.

You’ve mentioned before that it’s important to be our authentic selves. Why is that vital?

We only pass through here once! You’ve got to know what makes you tick and what you can bring to the table. I think sometimes we try to be what other people want us to be, but it’s important that we are our authentic selves. I encourage people to take me as I am. I’m not going to sugarcoat things. I truly am my authentic self, and that’s what you’re going to get every time you talk to me. I think that’s important, particularly now with the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s not so much believing what you thought people were – now it’s time to get to know people and learn who they really are. So I’m excited to see so many people aware and learning things about cultures that aren’t their own.

What woman did you look up to as a child? Who has been an influential woman in your life?

Definitely my mom. Just thinking about her makes me smile and beam from ear to ear. My mom divorced when I was maybe 10 or 11. Back then, in the seventies, that was a big no-no. She was an English teacher, and then she became a principal. But in the evenings, she was also going back to school to get her master’s; she was juggling everything [extracurricular] we were into. Right across the street was my grandma and my great-grandma, and so there were plenty of family interactions she juggled, and she did a lot in the community – it seemed like she was always going off to meetings. But she set those examples for us. And at the same time, she still had plenty of time and energy for us, too.

In hindsight, we were poor. We didn’t have a whole lot. But she never shared that with us. She made it happen in such a way that [my sister and I] didn’t realize it until we were adults. She instilled in us that “it’s way bigger than you,” you have to care for other people, serve your community, and do what you can to help others. And that was always her example in our lives and what she put in us, in ways that we’re living today. Right now I look at myself as a “mask mama,” because I’ve been making face masks left and right. I’m just concerned, particularly about the Black community – we know we have higher rates of COVID. So since April, I’ve made over 1,100 masks and donated them. Sometimes people ask me, “Why are you doing that? What’s wrong with you?” I feel like it’s the right thing to do. As long as I’m capable and there’s a need, I should be doing my part, and I know that goes back to my mom.

What words of wisdom do you have for young women?

I’m a Bob Marley fan, and one of his songs is “Exodus.” And it says: “Open your eyes and look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” For women, we need to look at that and say, “Are you happy with where you are?” And if you aren’t, then get busy with living.

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