Brian Rickards isn’t just planning for Placer County’s water future—he’s living it every day.
Brian has been with PCWA for 11 years and serves as Planning and Development Services Manager. In this role, he helps guide how the region grows and how water systems keep pace—ensuring that communities have the water they need, when they need it.
A Loomis resident, husband, and father of three active boys, Brian understands firsthand how important reliable water is for families, neighborhoods, and the community he calls home. Water is part of the lifestyle his family and many others in Placer County depend on.
“I hope readers understand that the work we do at PCWA is deeply personal to me,” Brian said. “I’m not just planning for today’s customers, but also for the future residents of Placer County, including my own kids and the generations who will rely on the water resources we protect.”
At PCWA, Brian helps plan, improve, and maintain the water system that serves Placer County. His work includes tracking how water is used across the system, identifying and reducing water loss, and helping lead the planning and construction of new pipelines, treatment facilities, and other infrastructure.
He also helps coordinate the data, reporting, and planning efforts that keep the system running efficiently and in compliance—while working closely with regional partners to strengthen connections between water systems and improve reliability during changing conditions.
“A big part of my role is making sure our water system stays strong and reliable for the long term,” Brian said. “That means understanding how water is being used, where we can improve, and making smart investments in infrastructure.”
He added that providing reliable water is truly a team effort.
“No one agency can do this alone. It takes coordination, trust, and shared commitment to make sure our communities have the water they depend on—now and in the future.”
“Keeping water reliably flowing is both a responsibility and a privilege. The work I do on planning, system improvements, water loss management, and long-term reliability supports the entire team, and I take pride in being part of a much larger effort that customers rarely see.”
Before joining PCWA, Brian worked on public infrastructure projects across California, including with State Parks. Today, he brings more than 20 years of experience to his role, helping lead major efforts like the future Ophir Water Treatment Plant—an investment that will strengthen the region’s water system for decades to come.
But for Brian, success isn’t just about projects, it’s about people.
“Reliable water doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen alone,” he said. “It takes teamwork—across agencies, across communities—to make sure we’re prepared for the future.”
That same sense of teamwork carries into his life at home, where he and his wife, Jen, stay busy raising their three boys and staying connected to the community they love.
