For the Water Authority, Fiscal Year 2025 was about building trust with our communities and delivering improved results for our region. To achieve those goals, we had to stop doing things the way they have always been done, all of which is highlighted in the FY2025 annual report. To learn more about the achievements and […]
After more than 52 years in the water and wastewater industry, Valley Center Municipal Water District’s long-serving General Manager, Gary Arant, is retiring. Arant led the District as General Manager for nearly 37 years. Since March 1989, he guided the District through countless challenges, including multi-year droughts, wildfires, freezes, state-mandated water cutbacks, economic recessions, countywide […]
San Diego region’s water and wastewater agency employees pitched in to carry on a tradition of holiday giving in 2025, benefiting a wide array of nonprofit community services. Agencies Support Water For People Fundraising Effort Employees of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District and Olivenhain Municipal Water District assembled fundraising gift baskets for the nonprofit […]
California’s water, tribal, and agricultural leaders today presented a comprehensive framework for a durable, basin-wide operating agreement for the Colorado River and highlighted the state’s proposal for conserving 440,000 acre-feet of river water per year. At the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, California underscored the state’s leadership in conservation, collaboration, and long-term stewardship […]
San Diego County’s most popular reservoir recreation areas offer special holiday season events through 2025 and host winter activities during the region’s cooler months. Holiday Spirit at Santee Lakes Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve hosts the Winter Lantern Festival on Saturday, December 13 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family-friendly festival encourages people to reflect […]
The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) recognized the winners of its 2025 Pure Excellence Awards at its November board meeting. The winners were honored for their positive impact on OMWD and local communities. OMWD Board President Matthew Hahn said, “We are grateful for the efforts of our award winners for their partnership in delivering excellent […]
The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today voted unanimously to renew the Permanent Special Agriculture Water Rate (PSAWR) Program, ensuring discounted water remains available to the region’s farmers in the coming years. The extension of the program, which began in its current form in 2020, was backed by the San Diego County […]
In honor of Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, the San Diego County Water Authority and the region’s member agencies recognize the contributions of veterans to San Diego County’s water and wastewater industry, ensuring a safe and reliable water supply. Water industry professionals and members of the U.S. armed forces share a common commitment to […]
The San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a redesign of its landscape at its Kearny Mesa headquarters to promote native vegetation. Originally laid out in 2008, the garden received an upgrade in 2017 and now, 8 years later, has gotten another major update. Spearheading the project was the Water Authority’s Senior Water Resource Specialist, […]
San Diego County ratepayers saved $29 million on newly completed state-mandated upgrades at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and some of the savings will lower the cost of water from the plant for years to come. The project benefitted from $19 million in federal grant funds and more than $10 million in savings […]
Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District hosted their second annual Water Career Day at the SEJPA campus on October 22. The mission of Water Career Day is to introduce students and veterans to the different career paths in the water and wastewater industry. The event was attended by […]
The San Diego County Water Authority’s award-winning Citizens Water Academy celebrated the graduation of its 1,000th community leader last Saturday at the conclusion of this year’s fall class. During the popular and long-running academy program, civic leaders learn about how the Water Authority has built the safe and reliable water supply San Diego County depends […]
The 2025 winner of the City of Oceanside’s annual Landscape Makeover Contest proves that a beautiful garden does not need to sacrifice a lush look with plenty of color to be water-efficient. Oceanside resident Helmut Igel entered the contest on behalf of his wife, Julie Igel. She didn’t know he had entered the competition on […]
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 […]
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 […]
Annual Report FY2025: Building Trust, Delivering Results
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneFor the Water Authority, Fiscal Year 2025 was about building trust with our communities and delivering improved results for our region. To achieve those goals, we had to stop doing things the way they have always been done, all of which is highlighted in the FY2025 annual report. To learn more about the achievements and […]
Gary Arant Retires After Decades of Service to Valley Center Municipal Water District
/in Achievements, Features, Uncategorized /by Jordan BeaneAfter more than 52 years in the water and wastewater industry, Valley Center Municipal Water District’s long-serving General Manager, Gary Arant, is retiring. Arant led the District as General Manager for nearly 37 years. Since March 1989, he guided the District through countless challenges, including multi-year droughts, wildfires, freezes, state-mandated water cutbacks, economic recessions, countywide […]
Member Agencies Give Generously to Nonprofits During Holidays
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego region’s water and wastewater agency employees pitched in to carry on a tradition of holiday giving in 2025, benefiting a wide array of nonprofit community services. Agencies Support Water For People Fundraising Effort Employees of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District and Olivenhain Municipal Water District assembled fundraising gift baskets for the nonprofit […]
California Commits to Conservation, Collaboration in New Colorado River Framework
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneCalifornia’s water, tribal, and agricultural leaders today presented a comprehensive framework for a durable, basin-wide operating agreement for the Colorado River and highlighted the state’s proposal for conserving 440,000 acre-feet of river water per year. At the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, California underscored the state’s leadership in conservation, collaboration, and long-term stewardship […]
2025 Community Holiday Activities at San Diego Reservoirs
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County’s most popular reservoir recreation areas offer special holiday season events through 2025 and host winter activities during the region’s cooler months. Holiday Spirit at Santee Lakes Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve hosts the Winter Lantern Festival on Saturday, December 13 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family-friendly festival encourages people to reflect […]
OMWD Announces 2025 Pure Excellence Awards
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) recognized the winners of its 2025 Pure Excellence Awards at its November board meeting. The winners were honored for their positive impact on OMWD and local communities. OMWD Board President Matthew Hahn said, “We are grateful for the efforts of our award winners for their partnership in delivering excellent […]
Water Authority Supports Farm Economy with Rate Discount
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today voted unanimously to renew the Permanent Special Agriculture Water Rate (PSAWR) Program, ensuring discounted water remains available to the region’s farmers in the coming years. The extension of the program, which began in its current form in 2020, was backed by the San Diego County […]
San Diego Veterans Find Purpose and Opportunity in Water Industry Careers
/in Features, Jobs and Training /by Gayle FalkenthalIn honor of Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 11, the San Diego County Water Authority and the region’s member agencies recognize the contributions of veterans to San Diego County’s water and wastewater industry, ensuring a safe and reliable water supply. Water industry professionals and members of the U.S. armed forces share a common commitment to […]
Debby Dunn’s Fab 4: A look Inside SDCWA’s New Water-Smart Garden
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a redesign of its landscape at its Kearny Mesa headquarters to promote native vegetation. Originally laid out in 2008, the garden received an upgrade in 2017 and now, 8 years later, has gotten another major update. Spearheading the project was the Water Authority’s Senior Water Resource Specialist, […]
Ratepayers Save $29 Million on Desalination Plant Upgrades
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneSan Diego County ratepayers saved $29 million on newly completed state-mandated upgrades at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and some of the savings will lower the cost of water from the plant for years to come. The project benefitted from $19 million in federal grant funds and more than $10 million in savings […]
Water Career Day Introduces Students to Essential Careers in Water and Wastewater
/in Features, Jobs and Training /by Gayle FalkenthalOlivenhain Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority, and Leucadia Wastewater District hosted their second annual Water Career Day at the SEJPA campus on October 22. The mission of Water Career Day is to introduce students and veterans to the different career paths in the water and wastewater industry. The event was attended by […]
1000th Community Leader Graduates from Citizens Water Academy
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority’s award-winning Citizens Water Academy celebrated the graduation of its 1,000th community leader last Saturday at the conclusion of this year’s fall class. During the popular and long-running academy program, civic leaders learn about how the Water Authority has built the safe and reliable water supply San Diego County depends […]
Bold Color Wins 2025 Oceanside Landscape Makeover Contest
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalThe 2025 winner of the City of Oceanside’s annual Landscape Makeover Contest proves that a beautiful garden does not need to sacrifice a lush look with plenty of color to be water-efficient. Oceanside resident Helmut Igel entered the contest on behalf of his wife, Julie Igel. She didn’t know he had entered the competition on […]
Padre Dam Municipal Water District Hosts Open House on October 18
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe 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 […]
Landscape Makeover Trio Named Vallecitos 2025 Contest Winners
/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalThe 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 […]