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Equipment displays and hands-on family fun are part of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Open House on Saturday, October 18. Photo: Padre Dam Municipal Water District

Padre Dam Municipal Water District Hosts Open House on October 18

October 9, 2025/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Padre Dam Municipal Water District is celebrating 70 years of service to the community with a public open house on Saturday, October 18.

The fun-filled, educational open house will provide guests a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, facilities and staff that provide water to the community. Everyone is welcome to attend, and there is no requirement to RSVP.

If you would like to receive Open House reminder emails, click here to sign up.

The open house takes place at the Padre Dam MWD headquarters, 9120 Carlton Oaks Drive in Santee from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Open House Features Family Fun Activities and Equipment Demos

The Padre Dam Municipal Water District Open House offers displays about its operations with plenty of hands-on experiences. Photo: Padre Dam Municipal Water District

The Padre Dam Municipal Water District Open House features displays about its operations, along with numerous hands-on experiences. Photo: Padre Dam Municipal Water District

The entire family will enjoy hands-on activities, equipment demonstrations, games, and educational booths. Guests can pose for a photo at the photo booth, plant and take home native seeds, create their own luxury water, and snack on complimentary shaved ice.

Attendees will enjoy dozens of attractions including:

A touch-a-truck experience and photos
Games like bean bag toss and fishing for candy
Equipment demonstrations and models
Trying their hand at fixing a leak
Learning about our systems from Padre Dam staff

Significant Place In Regional Water History

The Old Mission Dam is now part of Mission Trails Regional Park. Photo: Mission Trails Regional Park

The Padre Dam Municipal Water District is named for the Old Mission Dam. The dam, built around 1807, is a historic water landmark located nearby in Mission Trails Regional Park. The 12-foot-high, 220-foot-long dam with a five-mile-long flume was California’s first major irrigation project. It provided water to the Mission San Diego de Alcala and its 1,500 people living in a drought-prone climate.

The District was formed in 1976 when voters approved the merger of Santee County Water District with Rio San Diego Municipal Water District, which were originally established in the mid-1950s to serve the region’s growth. The new district took on its current name, the Padre Dam Municipal Water District.

In 1959, the Santee County Water District embarked on a pioneering project for its time of recycling wastewater for irrigation and commercial use. The treatment process became a chain of seven recycled water lakes. Boating and fishing were authorized in 1961, and Santee Lakes opened to the public for recreation.

The recycled water project and Santee Lakes received worldwide attention and continue to attract visitors in the field of water reuse and reclamation.

Today, Padre Dam Municipal Water District provides potable water, wastewater collection and treatment, water recycling, and recreational facilities to Santee, Blossom Valley, Dehesa, Crest, Alpine, Harbison Canyon, Flinn Springs, and a small portion of Lakeside and El Cajon.

Thomas and Georgia Shultz receive compliments from neighbors on their winning Vallecitos Water District Landscape Makeover contest landscaping. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Landscape Makeover Trio Named Vallecitos 2025 Contest Winners

October 3, 2025/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Vallecitos Water District named three beautiful and water-efficient landscape makeover projects as its trio of 2025 Landscape Makeover Contest Winners.

Lisa Urabe, Vallecitos Public Information Representative and U.C. Master Gardener, says that although each of the three landscape winners designed vastly different gardens, all of the winners use their gardens as natural extensions of their homes, blending indoor and outdoor living.

In addition, the winners prioritize sustainability by incorporating low-water plants, and their landscapes are all buzzing with life, thanks to thoughtful choices that attract pollinators, like bees and butterflies.

Take a video tour through the winning landscape makeovers.

Making A Change Results In Winning Landscape Makeover

Thomas and Georgia Shultz have been Vallecitos Water District customers for 45 years. They decided it was time for a change from the grass they had “for the longest time.” When they learned about taking advantage of rebates to help them pay for the makeover, it sealed the deal.

“We decided to take out all the lawn, and put in a waterwise landscape,” said Tom Shultz. He and Georgia worked with Stonebrook Landscapes to design a plan for their 2,800-square-foot yard, based on a layout provided by Tom, which prioritized pollinator-friendly native plants. The Shultzs did most of the work themselves.

The new landscape features milkweed, lantana, Little John Bottle Brush, California Lilac, English Lavender, Tuscan Blue Rosemary, Kangaroo Paw, Common Yarrow, Fan Flower, multiple types of sages, and a Crepe Myrtle tree.

The Shultzs selected pollinator-friendly plants and did most of the installation themselves. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Tom says the water savings are significant. “We were averaging between 20 and 30 units of water a month, and now we’re running in the 12 to 15 units a month.”

Georgia says neighbors now stop by and say they love the yard. She tells them about the rebate program available through the Metropolitan Water District. “It’s an amazing program Vallecitos Water District is using to encourage people to help us make better choices for our planet, for our water usage, instead of grass.”

“It’s exciting for us to be recognized for our work. We really appreciate Vallecitos Water District recognizing that we are doing something to help conserve water and to serve the community,” added Tom.

Second Place Project Adds Water Saving Irrigation Upgrades

Vallecitos Water District Public Information Representative and U.C. Master Gardener admires Kelly Ellingson’s second place winning landscape makeover project. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Vallecitos Water District customer Kelly Ellingson learned about the annual landscape makeover contest when Lisa Urabe visited her neighborhood. “The fact that Lisa came by to tell us about the contest, I thought it was above and beyond.”

Ellington replaced what she calls a “hodgepodge” of rock and patchy grass with California native plants and a touch of artificial turf. The biggest change was replacing the sprinkler system with a drip irrigation system, which she recommends to other homeowners.

“The favorite part of our landscape for us is how low-maintenance everything is, not having to worry about water and not having to worry about plants dying and replacing them.

“Now, when we look at our water bill, we’re pleasantly surprised each other to see that it’s not only aesthetically the direction we were headed, but it’s also saving us a lot of money.

“The outdoor patio for us is just like an added living room. We live out here. We spend so much time out here that we’re just so grateful that we did it,” said Ellington.

Third Place Winner Brings Beauty and Color to Life

Third-place winner Susan Haskell says she now spends more time outdoors in her patio surrounded by colorful plants. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Third-place winner Susan Haskell said her original backyard “had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.” Haskell decided a waterwise plan was the right approach and got additional inspiration from a previous winner featured in the Vallecitos Water District’s “Between The Pipes” customer newsletter.

“I thought it was just a really good thing for a water district to send out information and saving water,” said Haskell.

Haskell says she loves the colorful, waterwise plants, the beautiful dry river bed, and the seating area that allows her to enjoy time in the backyard “just chilling.”

“Before this garden, I was sort of a gray and beige person. The beauty and the color, the vibrancy, it has turned me into a colorful person,” said Haskell.

Catherine Spence and her husband David are the 2025 winners of the Otay Water District Watersmart Landscape Contest. Photo: Otay Water District

Low-Maintenance Garden for Retirement Wins Otay Water District 2025 Landscape Contest

September 29, 2025/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

Chula Vista residents Catherine and David Spence are the 2025 Otay Water District’s annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest winners. Their award-winning project upgraded their grassy side yard with a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant garden that better suits their busy and active lifestyle after retirement.

As a result of their landscape makeover, the Spences report an overall reduction in water use of approximately 39%.

New Low-Maintenance Garden Needs Less Water and Less Maintenance

The award-winning makeover needs less water and less maintenance. Photo: Otay Water District

The Spences purchased their home in 1998, located in the developing community of Sunbow. After years of living elsewhere and working for the U.S. Department of Defense, they returned home in 2018 to create a comfortable space for their retirement, prioritizing a yard that required less water and less maintenance.

To design their ideal yard, they found inspiration from model homes that demonstrated the beauty and simplicity of drought-tolerant landscaping. In 2020, they enrolled in the WaterSmart Landscape Makeover classes provided by the San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies.

Rebate Program Helps Replace Grass

A seating area in the new landscape. Photo: Otay Water District

In 2023, the Spences received a $2,376 rebate from the SoCal Water$mart Turf Replacement Program for replacing 792 square feet of turf in their side yard and adding water-efficient features.

The project involved installing a diverse range of low-water-use plants. A new Hunter Wi-Fi irrigation controller and drip system replaced the traditional sprinklers. Gorilla hair shredded redwood mulch helps the landscaping retain moisture.

The Spences installed two rain barrels to collect water for potted plants, a decorative fountain, and birdbaths, which attract a variety of local wildlife.

One rain barrel captures water for the side yard, while the second barrel is located down in their sloped backyard and connected to the home’s rain gutter by an extended downspout.

Two rain barrels capture water for potted plants. Photo: Otay Water District

Inspiring Future Conservation

The Spences’ landscape is located in the Otay Water District’s Division 2, represented by board member Delfina Gonzalez.

Otay Water District Division 2 board member Defina Gonzalez with the winner, Catherine Spence. Photo: Otay Water District

“Their garden enhances the beauty of our community with native, water-wise plants while also supporting local wildlife and helping our ecosystem thrive, all with minimal water use,” said Gonzalez. “We look forward to seeing their garden continue to flourish and inspire future conservation initiatives.”

The District recognized the winners at its September board meeting, presenting them with a gift certificate to a local nursery, among other prizes.

Representatives from the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District accept their group award as 2025 WateReuse Association Outreach and Education Program of the Year award winner. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District Water Career Day

San Diego Water Agencies Win Outreach and Education Program Award

September 24, 2025/in Features, Jobs and Training /by Gayle Falkenthal

The WateReuse Association of California named the 2024 Water Career Day hosted by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District as its 2025 Outreach and Education Program of the Year award winner.

The agencies were presented the award at the WateReuse Association of California Conference held in San Diego in September.

The mission of Water Career Day is to educate students and veterans about careers in water, wastewater, and recycled water.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Assistant General Manager Joey Randall speaks with Water Career Day students. Photo: Leucadia Wastewater District

The event, hosted at the San Elijo Water Campus, welcomed high school and community college students, and military veterans exploring post-service careers. Each agency engaged with attendees at interactive stations, performed demonstrations on real-world infrastructure, and provided insight into the industry’s diverse range of career pathways.

Watch a video with 2024 Water Career Day highlights,

“We are honored to receive this award recognizing Water Career Day,” said Leucadia Wastewater District board president Rolando Saldana. “By engaging high school and college students, we hope to inspire the next generation to consider careers in the water and wastewater industry, vital services that protect public health, the environment, and our community’s future.”

“SEJPA is proud to have hosted Water Career Day at the San Elijo Water Campus. This event reflects our commitment to investing in our community and preparing the next generation of water professionals.

“By inspiring students and veterans to explore careers in water, we advance our mission to provide safe and reliable recycled water and wastewater services that protect public health and the environment,” added Kristi Becker, San Elijo JPA Board Chair, and Solana Beach city councilmember.

“With firsthand experience across various areas in the water industry, these students are more equipped to choose their future career paths,” said OMWD Board President Matthew R. Hahn.

“Water Career Day fostered a stronger appreciation for careers in the water sector among the next generation.“

Water Industry Offers Wide Range of Career Opportunities

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Field Services Technician Morgan Ferguson demonstrates the type of tasks he performs as a water industry professional. Photo: Leucadia Wastewater District

With hundreds of highly skilled employees retiring from the region’s water and wastewater industry each year, the industry provides vast opportunities for exciting careers that directly support the well-being of communities across San Diego County.

The water industry offers a career path with competitive pay and excellent benefits. Many operational positions require technical skills that may be obtained through on-the-job training and industry-specific certifications, with education available at the region’s community colleges, including Palomar College and Cuyamaca College.

In addition to operational jobs, there are several other career opportunities that play critical roles in engineering, finance, public affairs, human resources, administration, and information technology.

Partners in Advancing Sustainable Water Sources

Water Career Day took place at the San Elijo Water Campus, a publicly owned wastewater treatment and water recycling facility responsible for collecting, treating and safely disposing of, or recycling wastewater and its residuals for residents and businesses in the Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Olivenhain and Cardiff communities. The plant is located in the Cardiff area, off Manchester Avenue. Photo: Leucadia Wastewater District

Formed in 1990, WaterReuse Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the beneficial and efficient uses of high-quality, locally produced, sustainable water sources for the betterment of society and the environment through advocacy, education and outreach, research, and membership. WateReuse California is a state section of WateReuse Association.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District is a public agency providing water, wastewater services, recycled water, hydroelectricity, and operation of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Organized in 1959, OMWD currently serves approximately 87,000 customers over 48 square miles in northern San Diego County.

The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority is a local leader in environmental stewardship, providing award-winning wastewater treatment and recycled water services for the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Rancho Santa Fe.

Leucadia Wastewater District was formed in 1959 to collect, transport, and treat wastewater and provide recycled water for irrigation. LWD provides service to about 60,000 customers in a 16-square-mile area that includes La Costa, Leucadia, and the Village Park area of Encinitas. LWD manages about four million gallons of treated wastewater daily.

Rainwater Harvesting Workshops Begin September 27 in Lakeside

September 11, 2025/in Features, Supply & Demand, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The County of San Diego’s Waterscape Rebate Program will host rainwater harvesting workshops throughout the fall months of 2025. It’s an ideal time for homeowners to explore their options for water-saving improvements that also benefit the San Diego region’s watershed.

The first rainwater harvesting workshop scheduled for Fall 2025 takes place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Lakeside Library, 12428 Woodside Ave, Lakeside.

As more rainwater harvesting workshops are scheduled, they will be listed on the County of San Diego’s Rainwater Harvesting webpage here. For more information, email .

Rebates For Water-Saving Improvements

Workshops can help San Diego County residents, businesses, and agricultural producers get cash rebates for water-saving improvements like efficient landscaping and irrigation upgrades. Photo: County of San Diego

The Waterscape Rebate Program helps San Diego County residents, businesses, and agricultural producers get cash rebates for water-saving improvements like efficient landscaping and irrigation upgrades.

The County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (WPP) is dedicated to protecting the environment by preventing pollutants from entering local waterways. Funding the rebate program is one of many strategies for protecting water quality in our region.

When businesses and households make changes to reduce water use and use rainwater in their landscapes, we preserve healthy, safe waterways, more reliable water supplies, and can achieve costs savings at the same time.

If you live in unincorporated San Diego AND receive your water from the San Diego County Water Authority and their member agencies, you are eligible for ALL rebates listed under the County program.

If you live in an incorporated city, including the City of San Diego, there are numerous rebates available for residents. Visit SoCal WaterSmart, the City of San Diego’s rebate page, or your local water agency’s website to learn more. Not sure who your water agency is? Find your water district here.

The Watershed Protection Program partners with Environmental Incentives to manage and distribute rebates to program participants. Other rebates are offered and distributed by program partners, the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (through SoCal Water$mart).

The Waterscape Rebate Program supports a wide range of yard sizes and home setups. While using a contractor is not required, your project must follow all program requirements to qualify for a rebate.

Reduce Water Use, Save Money and Environment

Learning how to reduce your water use benefits your wallet along with the watershed. Photo: County of San Diego

During San Diego County’s limited periods of rainfall, any rainwater captured from your roof and property saves money. It also helps the region maintain its water supplies.

Workshops introduce residents to several beautiful, efficient ways to save rainwater. In addition to rain barrels, directing downspouts to fill containers lets you choose how to use the rainwater you capture. The overflow should empty onto your yard or a landscape feature to infiltrate the excess flow into the soil. Rain chains can assist with this.

By using a rain barrel, San Diegans can collect water for later use, reduce runoff to the ocean, and save money on their water bill. Reducing runoff from driveways, streets, and sidewalks also keeps harmful pollutants from reaching beaches and waterways. Instead, we can redirect fresh rainwater to our plants that need it most.

Just one inch of rain yields 600 gallons per 1000 sq. ft. of roof space, depending on your roof configuration. That’s a lot of free, fresh water for San Diegans to divert and help their plants thrive. In addition to diverting rainwater, the rain barrels provided can store up to 50 gallons of rainwater for later use in a mosquito-proof container.

The County is committed to protecting the water quality in the region’s creeks, streams, and coastal areas. Runoff from irrigation, storms, and even faulty septic systems can bring pollutants to our waterways and threaten public health.

How Rain Barrel Rebates Work

After you purchase items eligible for rebates and have installed them, you can apply for rebates. Current rain barrel rebates are $35 and limited to two per household for most San Diego County residents. You can submit for multiple projects. Learn more at SoCal Water Smart.

For additional details on conservation rebate programs and to order rain barrels, visit the Solana Center For Environmental Innovation website for more information on rebate programs and to order rain barrels.

Water Leaders Discuss the Future of the Colorado River

September 10, 2025/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan Beane

The San Diego County Water Authority and partners convened an expert panel conversation on the future of the Colorado River for a packed room of Citizen Water Academy alumni and special guests on Sept. 5. The conversation, co-sponsored by the San Diego Global Affairs Council and the Burnam Center for Community Advancement and titled “The Future of the Colorado River”, comes as the deadline for negotiations on new river allocations approaches at the end of this year.

Panelists for the event also included Sally Spener, Foreign Affairs Officer with the International Boundary and Water Commission; Dan Denham, General Manager with the San Diego County Water Authority; Tina Shields, Water Department Manager with the Imperial Irrigation District; Jordan Joaquin Member and Past President of the Quechan Indian Tribe of Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and Carlos A. de la Parra, Founding Partner, with Centro Luken de Estrategias en Agua y Medio Ambiente in Tijuana.

Panelists at the “Future of the Colorado River” event put on by the San Diego County Water Authority.

Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano kicked things off, recognizing both the tenuous conditions on the ground but also the opportunities ahead.

“This is truly an extraordinary, unprecedented time for so many reasons,” Serrano said. “I believe history will look back on this moment as one where Southern California came together to secure the future of the Colorado River — not just for ourselves but for all those who depend on it.”

The speakers weighed in on the past, present and future of the Colorado River – with an emphasis on ongoing negotiations among the basin states and other interest groups on how to share this precious resource and what that holds for the 40 million residents of seven states, two countries and tribal nations who depend on this lifeline.

From the impacts of climate change, the perspective of the tribes and Mexico and a deep discussion on where things stand with negotiations on water use from the Colorado River, this lively conversation was both a cautionary conversation about the obstacles ahead but also included notes of optimism about where things are headed.

“I do think there is hope and I think that hope comes from the sense of urgency we all have to embrace,” said Denham.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese and historian Kristie Hawthorne perform the ribbon cutting at the new location of the Weese Oceanside History Center with members of the Oceanside Historical Society. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Oceanside History Center’s New Home Named After Water Pioneer

September 3, 2025/in Education, Features, Heroes /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Oceanside Historical Society opened the Weese Oceanside History Center at its new permanent home with a ribbon-cutting on August 29. It is now located at 510 Civic Center Drive next to The Star Theatre.

The Weese Oceanside History Center is named in honor of Robert and Bessie Weese. Robert Weese dedicated more than 40 years of service to the City of Oceanside Water Department and to the San Diego region as a San Diego County Water Authority board member. He was known as “Mr. Water” for his expertise.

Weese Honored For 40 Years of Water Industry Service

Robert A. Weese worked for the City of Oceanside water department for 40 years. Photo: City of Oceanside

Weese, a native of Ontario, Canada, came to the U.S. and became a naturalized citizen after serving in the Canadian Army as a teenager. He drove an ambulance in England during World War I.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1924 and was stationed on the USS Arizona based in San Diego. After meeting and marrying his wife Bessie, he was discharged from the Navy and went to work for the Oceanside Water Department as a meter reader, beginning a life of service in the water industry.

Weese gained a firsthand knowledge of the water system by reading and repairing every water meter in Oceanside, and through weekly checks of the city’s wells and the water table. In 1935, the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built a new pumping station and reservoir at Buddy Todd Park, where Weese would chlorinate the water.

In 1938, Weese was appointed Oceanside’s Water Superintendent, a position he held until his retirement in 1968.

Weese had the foresight to divert sewer effluent away from the Pacific Ocean into Whelan Lake. He also proposed an underground barrier at the mouth of the San Luis Rey River as a means of holding back the ocean during periods when the water table was pumped below sea level.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, in front of an exhibit honoring his parents at the Reese Oceanside History Center. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, in front of an exhibit honoring his parents at the Weese Oceanside History Center. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Weese wrote a history of the water department, which was published in the Oceanside Blade Tribune newspaper. He oversaw the building of the Fire Mountain Reservoir in 1955.

In addition to serving as chairman of the Water Authority’s Engineering and Operations Committee, Weese was a member of the State Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Feather River Project Association, the American Water Works Association, and other water-related organizations. Weese also served as a director of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.

Oceanside’s water treatment plant, built in 1983, was named the Robert A. Weese Filtration Plant.

New Exhibit Space Includes Weese Papers

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, speaks at the August 29 ribbon cutting event for the relocated Reese Oceanside History Center as historian Kristi Hawthorne looks on. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

Tom Weese, son of Robert and Bessie Weese, speaks at the August 29 ribbon-cutting event for the relocated Weese Oceanside History Center as historian Kristi Hawthorne looks on. Photo: Zach Cordner/The Osider.

The new location of the Weese Oceanside History Center has more than 3,000 square feet of exhibits spanning a century from the 1880s to the 1980s. Among the exhibits is a collection of Weese’s personal and professional papers, donated by his son Thomas Weese in 2022.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission to the history center is free.

The September 6 Open House event will feature OMWD departments and customer programs, and OMWD and Leucadia Wastewater District will display several of their specialized utility vehicles. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

OMWD & First Responders Host Open House and Emergency Preparedness Event on Sept. 6

September 2, 2025/in Education, Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) invites residents to attend an informative Open House and Emergency Preparedness Event in collaboration with the Encinitas Fire Department, Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, San Diego Gas & Electric, and other local agencies on Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

The event will take place at the district’s headquarters, located at 1966 Olivenhain Road in Encinitas.

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District will lead a wildfire prevention workshop and display a fire engine (events permitting). Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Safeguard Your Home: Water-Smart and Fire-Wise Landscaping Workshop

As part of the open house, OMWD offers a free Water-Smart and Fire-Wise Landscaping Workshop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

As peak wildfire season approaches, this free workshop offers waterwise landscaping tips, wildfire emergency preparedness resources, and expert advice in a fun, family-friendly setting.

“We’re giving our neighbors the tools to protect their homes and their families, while also sharing more about the critical services that Olivenhain Municipal Water District provides every day,” said OMWD Board Director Ebin Lanfried. “As wildfires and other emergencies become an even greater challenge in our region, it’s essential that we prepare together.”

Presentations will be provided by California Landscape Technologies, Encinitas Fire Department, and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District. Learn tips on water-efficient landscaping, firescaping techniques, and how to protect your property against wildfires.

The workshop is free, but registration is required at www.olivenhain.com/events.

Open House Highlights OMWD Customer Programs

The OMWD Open House and Emergency Preparedness Event offers a variety of displays and informational booths. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

The OMWD Open House event will feature informational booths showcasing OMWD departments and customer programs, as well as local fire department emergency preparedness efforts.

OMWD and Leucadia Wastewater District will display several of their specialized utility vehicles.

The Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District and Encinitas Fire Department plan to exhibit a fire truck and engine at the event (if not responding to area emergencies).

Paramedics from American Medical Response ambulance service will demonstrate CPR techniques and display a specialized response vehicle.

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District Open House offers family-friendly activities along with informational emergency preparedness workshops and exhibits. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Booths from area organizations include:

OMWD departments will provide information, answer questions, and discuss free programs.
San Diego Gas & Electric, San Diego County Water Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District will present their programs and services.
Booths representing Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District and Encinitas Fire Department will provide wildfire and emergency preparedness advice and materials.
Local elementary students will showcase their environmentally focused projects.

The sustainable landscape demonstration garden at the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s (OMWD) headquarters provides customers with examples of water-efficient landscaping techniques that can save water and money.

The sustainable landscape demonstration garden at the Olivenhain Municipal Water District headquarters provides customers with examples of water-efficient landscaping techniques that can save water and money. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Attendees can tour OMWD’s California-friendly demonstration garden, which exhibits water-efficient plants, and emphasizes key principles of sustainable landscaping.

Participants can take part in family-oriented activities, enjoy refreshments, and receive a complimentary emergency preparedness and water-efficiency kit, while supplies last.

Winning Student Artwork Spotlights the Value of Water in Otay Student Poster Contest

August 21, 2025/in Education, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

Five student artists were named the winners of the Otay Water District’s 2025 “Being Water Wise is…” Student Poster Contest for best illustrating the value of water. The annual contest invites K-12 grade students attending schools in the District’s service area to submit their artwork.

Students learn about the importance of a clean, reliable water supply in the classroom through the Otay Water District’s educational program, which promotes water-use efficiency through art, and turn what they’ve learned into the award-winning posters.

Students Inspire Others To Protect Vital Resource

“We are grateful for all who participate in our program and help share the many ways to use water wisely, whether at home or outdoors,” said Eileen Salmeron, Otay’s communications assistant and contest coordinator. “We hope our young generation will continue to inspire others to join in the effort in protecting this vital resource.”

This year’s high school winner, Zhaoyu Zhai, captivated the judges with his drawing of an alien figure named Adrian taking a short shower, alongside the message “Short Showers Save Water.” Adrian is part of an ongoing character series that he has been developing over the past two years and has applied to other creative projects.

“As a parent, we’ve seen how passionate Zhaoyu is about these characters,” said Zhaoyu’s mother Huiyu Li. “His work includes both hand-drawn illustrations and digital pieces that combine drawing with animation and editing. His inspiration often comes from everyday life and his creative imagination.”

Winners Advance to Regional Southern California Competition

Although there were no middle school submissions, winners were selected in the kindergarten-third grade, fourth-sixth grade, and high school categories. The District recognized the winners at its Aug. 6 Board of Directors meeting with a gift card, certificate, art kit, and a goody bag.

The 2025 Student Poster Contest winners include:

K-Third Grade Category:

Second grader Ethan Quintero-Ramos, won in the elementary school category. Photo: Otay Water District

First Place: Ethan Quintero-Ramos, Second Grade, Olympic View Elementary

First grader Jacob Irons won second place in the K-Third Grade Category. Photo: Otay Water District

Second Place: Jacob Irons, First Grade, Discovery Charter Elementary

Fourth – Sixth Grade Category:

Mila Vega's winning artwork won first place in the sixth grade category. Photo: Otay Water District

Mila Vega’s winning artwork won first place in the fourth to sixth grade category. Photo: Otay Water District

First Place: Mila Vega, Fifth Grade, Valle Lindo Elementary

Sophie Coghill’s poster won second place in the fourth to sixth grade category. Photo: Otay Water District

Second Place: Sophie Coghill, Fifth Grade, Tiffany Elementary

High School Category:

Zhaoyu Zhai’s creative alien theme won the high school category. Photo: Otay Water District

First Place: Zhaoyu Zhai, Ninth Grade, Otay Ranch High School

The posters now advance to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s regional contest, for a chance to be featured in MWD’s 2026 Art Calendar. The winners will be announced later this year.

Otay Water District students have won the regional contest and been included in the Metropolitan calendar the past three years, including Ava Fabunan from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in 2025; Sofia Cardenas Loera of STEAM Academy and Sophia Garvida of Bonita Vista Middle School in 2024; and Christian Rogacion from Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and Khilee Haull from Hillsdale Middle School in 2023.

Winning posters are online at otaywater.gov/poster-contest-winners-2025.

Janet Chambers replace the grass at her new home with plants native pollinators love. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Pollinator Paradise Wins 2025 Vista Irrigation District Landscape Contest

August 20, 2025/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Vista Irrigation District board of directors recognized Janet Chambers as the district’s 2025 WaterSmart Landscape Contest winner at its August meeting.

Chambers moved into her current residence about 11 years ago. The original yard consisted of a plain-looking lawn and one large Liquidambar tree. Because the existing lawn consumed a tremendous amount of water and provided little benefit, she decided to make a change.

Replacing Grass With Flowering Plants for Pollinators

The new landscape features a wide variety of blooming plants in bright colors. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Chambers began by removing her turf and installing a decomposed granite path and a cobblestone sitting area; she then set out to create a drought-tolerant garden with an emphasis on providing flowering plants for pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Once the new garden was installed, the change in her front yard’s character was dramatic.

“Now the garden is alive with constant movement of pollinators, and it’s a joy to sit on my cobblestone patio and watch all of the activity,” said Chambers.

Chambers says the garden does not require pesticides or herbicides and practically takes care of itself by reseeding empty areas on its own. She waters the landscape with a drip system several times weekly during the summer months. She is able to turn off the irrigation system during wetter winter months.

Annual Contest Highlights Value of Watersmart Landscapes

Janet Chambers added a Small Little Library to her vibrant, watersmart landscape. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

The annual contest recognizes outstanding water-wise residential landscapes based on the criteria of overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient methods of irrigation.

“Free regional WaterSmart landscape workshops are available online and in person to assist homeowners to upgrade their home’s landscape to reduce water bills,” said Sandra Sanchez, Vista Irrigation District water conservation specialist.

“Additionally, landscape conversion rebates, such as for turf replacement, are available to help with the cost.”

The district joined eleven other local agencies that held landscape contests this year, providing an opportunity to highlight water-wise residential landscapes throughout the region. Participating agencies (besides Vista Irrigation District) include Helix Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Otay Water District, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Vallecitos Water District, California American Water, Rincon Del Diablo Water District, and the cities of Escondido and Oceanside.

For more information about the contest and to see more examples of WaterSmart landscaping, visit www.landscapecontest.com . Visit the district’s website at www.vidwater.org or call 760-597-3160 to find out more about free landscape workshops and incentive programs

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