Orange County Utilities Welcomes New Director

Seasoned Public Servant Brings Extensive Experience to Award-Winning Office

Orange County, Fla. – Last week, Ed Torres joined Orange County Utilities as the department’s new director. Torres brings decades of service and experience with him to the office, including over 10 years as the Director of Public Works & Utilities for the City of Altamonte Springs.  Torres is well known for his innovation and leadership in the field.

A true public servant, Torres has dedicated his career to managing public works and innovating within that space. In addition to the City of Altamonte Springs, he worked to ensure efficient and sustainable services were delivered to residents in Seminole County, the City of Casselberry, the City of Palm Bay and more. He has also worked for private engineering firms in the region. With over 30 years in the industry, Torres has garnered experience in a full-range of utility related programs, including solid waste collection and recycling.

“I am pleased to welcome Ed Torres as the new Director of Utilities,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “Mr. Torres has dedicated his career to ensuring critical services are delivered safely and efficiently to residents. I’m looking forward to working with him to meet our community’s utility needs.”

During his time with the City of Altamonte Springs, Torres led several innovative sustainability programs. These projects included a floating solar array at a water reclamation facility; combining stormwater from the I-4 Ultimate project with wastewater and treating it to reclaimed water standards as an alternative water supply; and using sewage surveillance to track COVID-19 prevalence before testing was widely available.

“Improving the lives of Orange County residents is my priority,” said Torres. “I’m honored to work with the knowledgeable staff at Orange County Utilities to drive a positive impact for our customers and the environment.”

Torres holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology and is a board member in the Florida Water Environment Association Utility Council. Formerly, Torres served as a board member for both the Florida Stormwater Association and UCF’s Stormwater Management Academy. He is also a strong advocate of education and STEM programs for the community. Torres is a licensed professional engineer in Florida and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP).