PWD Women’s History Month Spotlight: Meg Malloy

We are introducing you to some phenomenal women working at the Philadelphia Water Department, making a difference every day and doing extraordinary things in their careers

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Explain what you do at PWD and what is something that people would find interesting about the job.

I co-manage GSO with Ashley Willis, and our team includes 59 positions. We are responsible for operating and maintaining PWD’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure, such as rain gardens, underground basins, and tree trenches. My primary focus is on surface features—plants, trees, soil, and concrete. We currently manage 1,615 vegetated stormwater systems across the city, which together encompass 28 acres of vegetated area.

What advice would you give a younger version of yourself looking to work at PWD in your career field?

Have patience with the civil service process— it can be challenging. Build connections with others. Stay curious. Take time to understand the history of Philadelphia’s water, stormwater, and sewage systems, as well as the Department itself. Doing so has given me a deep appreciation for our work and helps me feel connected to a story much larger than my own.

Do you think there are any barriers for women wanting to do your job? If so, how did you overcome them?

I think that in my current role there are great opportunities for women who want to do this work. In Operations, though, there is a need to be firm and to make decisions rooted in facts and experience. Women in science are making strong strides, and I believe we need to continue pushing and staying vigilant to ensure we maintain the spaces and leadership roles we’ve worked hard to achieve.

Here’s your chance to give a special shout-out to a woman in your own life, at work, or in your community who has served as a role model or mentor—who’s getting your praise?

This is a hard question — there are so many women in my life who have inspired me and provided strength. Some have been long-term influences, while others were part of my life for shorter periods but left a lasting impact. One of those individuals was Dr. Danielle Kreeger. Our paths crossed several times through school and work, and she always left me in awe.

She was an aquatic and marine ecologist and an expert in bivalves and ecosystem services. Her passion was contagious. I learned so much from her — not only about mussels and their role in ecosystems, or how understanding the natural world can help solve large-scale challenges, but also about how to live life more fully. I’m grateful for her vibrancy, her passion, and her legacy.

Share your favorite inspirational quote by a woman…

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
— Jane Goodall, English primatologist and anthropologist