Nirmala Mahadevan
At the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Nirmala Mahadevan, PE, supports more than 600 water systems across California as a Senior Civil Engineer. She and her team help systems navigate regulations, interpret water loss audit data, and communicate results to governing bodies for informed decision making. She especially enjoys working directly with water systems, collaborating with counterparts across states, and thriving under a supportive leadership team that makes her role dynamic and impactful.
Nirmala sees her career in water as both professional and deeply personal. In 2021, she accepted an award virtually from the organization Water For People with both of her parents by her side. She describes the honor as a reflection of their values and guidance.
The organization’s motto, “Everyone Forever,” resonates with her family’s legacy of service: her father spent over two decades in Ghana as an architect designing schools, hospitals, and government buildings, while her mother has inspired her with resilience, optimism, and the ability to build community across three continents. In his memory, Nirmala has also started The Mahadevan Foundation to continue philanthropic projects and support initiatives that reflect her father’s dedication to nation building.
An AWWEE member for seven years, Nirmala first joined to serve as a mentor through The Exchange and has since cherished the program. She even introduced the mentorship model to other organizations, including NSBE Los Angeles Professionals, where it continues to thrive. For her, every mentee’s achievement feels like a shared success.
Outside of work, Nirmala finds joy in West African culture—its music, food, humor, and conversations about development. She also loves yoga by the beach, believing that if more people practiced it, the world would be a more peaceful place.
