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 San Diego Water Agencies Win Outreach and Education Program Award
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.
