The Winter 2025 issue of the AWWA California/Nevada Section’s Source Magazine features Rob Craw in its Veteran Spotlight. Coverage from the magazine is available below, or you can view the full edition.
For over three decades, member Rob Craw has been a driving force in revolutionizing the water treatment industry. Combining technical expertise with a passion for improving water quality, Rob is the founder of multiple successful companies, including Covenant Technical Solutions (CTS) and AqueoUS Vets.
Rob’s work spans both public and private sectors, tackling one of the most vital and complex issues of our time: delivering clean, safe water in the face of mounting environmental pressures.
Military Influence
Rob’s journey began in the United States Army, where he served with the 2nd Armored Division, known as the Hell on Wheels, from 1986 to 1990, which included a two-year deployment to Germany.
His military experience instilled in him the values of discipline, leadership, and service, which would later define his approach to business.
Following his honorable discharge, Rob pursued a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from California State University East Bay, laying the academic foundation for his future career in water treatment.
Pioneering Solutions
Rob’s career in the water industry began the day he walked into Charlie Wells’ office at Westates Carbon which was ultimately purchased by USFilter. The company provided equipment and service-based solutions for water, soil, wastewater, and potable water applications in municipal and industrial markets.
A soon-to-be graduate, Rob was looking for a 10-week paid internship to satisfy a requirement for his environmental studies degree. Initially, Charlie hesitated to bring Rob on board, fearing that he would invest time in training someone who might leave after just ten weeks. However, Charlie saw potential in Rob.
During those ten weeks, Rob did everything, from groundwater systems cleanup to working the shop floor. After completing his internship, Rob officially joined the Westates team.
Little did he realize then that the internship would mark the start of a lifelong friendship and business partnership and launch his career as a trailblazer in the water industry.
At Westates, Rob distinguished himself as a top-performing sales leader. Over a decade, Rob grew the company’s sales by more than 20% annually and expanded the sales team by 80%, showcasing his ability to lead and grow organizations.
It was Rob’s entrepreneurial drive that would have the most profound impact on the water sector. In 2015, the groundwater industry was undergoing significant changes. Increasing environmental regulations concerning identifying, assessing, and treating pollutants such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and emerging contaminants like PFAS and 1,2,3-TCP led to growing demand for sustainable solutions and services to guarantee safe water supplies.
Rob recognized an emerging market for which he was prepared and well-suited. He called up his mentor, Charlie, and together, they founded AqueoUSVets, a company that has since become a national leader in providing innovative water treatment solutions. Under Rob’s leadership, AqueoUS Vets grew exponentially.
One of Rob’s most notable achievements at AqueoUSVets was designing, manufacturing, and installing the largest lon Exchange PFAS treatment plant in the United States.
Founding Covenant Technical Solutions
In April 2024, the EPA made a significant move by introducing new regulations to ensure safe drinking water across the U.S. The regulations set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFAS at just four parts per trillion. To ensure compliance, initial monitoring is expected to be in place by 2027, with full enforcement of PFAS MCL compliance in 2029.
In California alone, groundwater accounts for approximately 85% of residential water. With the demand for water rising and regulations getting stricter, water treatment systems are needed more than ever. The EPA’s deadline for compliance has left many water utilities racing against time. Many do not have enough time—typically 3-5 years—to design and build sites to address the new limits.
Rob saw that the new regulations and the time constraints they imposed demanded an alternative, more unified delivery model. Rob founded Covenant Technical Solutions (CTS) with partner Bill Williams in 2024. The collaboration between these two individuals’ areas of expertise is at the core of CTS’s efforts to assist utilities in maximizing the efficiency of their water treatment and construction development strategies.
The company specializes in water conveyance and groundwater treatment projects and is a one-stop, integrated solutions provider. It offers a comprehensive suite of services ranging from conceptual to integrated design to alternative delivery methods, such as design-build, progressive design-build, CMAR, and P3 solutions. Their unique approach can speed up the project schedule by up to 60% compared to traditional design-bid-build methods.
Supporting Veterans
In addition to his technical accomplishments, Rob is strongly committed to supporting the veteran community. In 2021, he founded American Veterans Products & Services (AVP&S), a consulting and procurement management company.
AVP&S partners with water utilities and municipalities to provide expert consultation on emerging contaminants while maintaining Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) compliance. Rob’s leadership has helped AVP&S grow rapidly, serving prominent clients such as California Water Service Company and East Bay Municipal Utility District.
A Legacy of Leadership
Rob’s success is not solely defined by his technical skills but by his leadership style. Rob is a firm believer in the transformative power of mentorship. He credits individuals like Charlie for not only teaching him how to learn but also how to impart that knowledge to others. Mentorship has been a critical factor in shaping his career, and now he strives to pay it forward by guiding those who work under him.
Rob sees it as his responsibility to guide the next generation— teaching, preparing, and passing the torch—not just to preserve the institution and its intellectual capital but also to empower the new individuals who will step in to carry the business forward.
Through his work at CTS, AVP&S, and beyond, Rob ensures that communities across the country have access to safe, clean, and sustainable water—a legacy that will endure for generations.