Tag Archive for: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

OMWD Recognizes Winners of the Annual Water Awareness Poster Contest

Encinitas, Calif. — At its May 17 meeting, Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors recognized the top three entries in the 2023 North County Water Agencies Water Awareness Poster Contest. Nearly 100 fourth graders who live or attend schools in OMWD’s service area participated in this year’s competition.

The recognized entries were submitted by Lillian Cook from El Camino Creek Elementary School, Leo W. from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, and Talia Elizabeth Abordo from Stone Ranch Elementary School. Lillian’s poster depicts her creative interpretation of a sunset on an ocean horizon. Leo’s poster featured an ocean wave cresting over planet Earth as it floats on the ocean, and Talia’s artwork showcases an otter holding a sign advocating to “save water, save one of us!” next to a smiling planet Earth.

“This contest is a wonderful way to showcase the creativity and talent of students throughout the communities OMWD serves,” said OMWD Board Vice President Matthew Hahn. “By highlighting the importance of water use efficiency,  elementary school children illustrate through their artwork the importance of protecting this finite natural resource.”

This year marks the 30th year of the annual Water Awareness Poster Contest. The theme for this year’s contest was “Love Water, Save Water.” The contest teaches students the value of water as a limited resource and the importance of using it wisely, while providing OMWD with locally produced artwork to reinforce this message to its customers.

The recognized posters will be featured in a 2024 Water Awareness Calendar.

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Welcome to the Board: Neal Meyers, Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Neal Meyers was seated on the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on March 20, 2023, representing the Olivenhain Municipal Water District. Meyers serves on the Administrative and Finance and Imported Water committees for the Water Authority.

 

 

 

(Editor’s Note: The Water Authority’s Board of Directors typically meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. The Board invites the public to attend its monthly meetings and to comment on agenda items or other matters before the Board. For meeting times, agendas and documents, go to​ www.sdcwa.org/board-directors)

Neal Meyers-Board-Olivenhain-Welcome to the Board

Welcome to the Board: Neal Meyers, Olivenhain Municipal Water District

(Editor’s Note: This feature highlights new members of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 36-member Board of Directors. Each of the Water Authority’s 24 member agencies appoints at least one representative to the Board, which sets policy for the Water Authority.)

Welcome to the Board: Neal Meyers, Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Who: Neal Meyers was seated on the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on March 20, 2023, representing the Olivenhain Municipal Water District. Meyers serves on the Administrative and Finance and Imported Water committees for the Water Authority.

Background/Education: Meyers, a resident of Carlsbad, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in local government administration from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he earned Highest Honors and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. He represents District 5 on the Olivenhain Municipal Water District Board of Directors and is also the Board treasurer. In addition to his duties as Treasurer, Meyers serves on OMWD’s Finance, Safety, and Ad Hoc Insurance committees. He holds a certificate from the Special District Leadership Academy, and he was awarded a Certificate in Special District Governance from the California Special Districts Association. Member: The State Bar of California and Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.

Water Industry Affiliations: Director, CalDesal Association, AdHoc Insurance Committee Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA).

Q & A

Q: How did you get interested in water issues?

A: My first interest in water issues was from the severe drought in the mid-1970s while growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and then from the Proposition 9 peripheral canal vote while I studied local government as an undergraduate. After starting my professional career in San Diego County, I was privileged to represent many water agencies, where I gained a great appreciation of their many challenges, now exacerbated by severe periods of water shortages. I am very appreciative of the opportunity I now have to assist my local community and the region to work on those issues in a policy-making role.

Q: What are your priorities or interests as a Board member?

A: Maintaining a safe and reliable water supply at affordable rates. We must find ways to leverage San Diego County’s forward-thinking investments in water infrastructure into a workable long-term business model that keeps water rates under control. Higher rates are not good for anyone, and we must especially must keep in mind the disproportionate burden higher rates have on low-income ratepayers and the underserved. We should also spend more time looking at developing greater coordination and sharing of resources between our many county public utility agencies.

Q: Besides maintaining safe and reliable water supplies, what do you see as the top three issues facing the San Diego region?

A: Removing barriers to affordable housing, appropriately allocating transportation infrastructure resources, and maintaining high-quality, affordable education at all levels throughout our region.

Q: What do you like to do when you are not working?

A: Family, friends, exercise, and travel. I figure if I can keep that all in balance, I will be around for a while to think about water.

The Water Authority’s Board of Directors typically meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. The Board invites the public to attend its monthly meetings and to comment on agenda items or other matters before the Board. For meeting times, agendas and documents, go to​ www.sdcwa.org/board-directors

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

OMWD Pipeline Named “Project of the Year”

Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Manchester Avenue Potable Water Pipeline Replacement Project was recognized today as a 2023 Project of the Year by American Public Works Association’s San Diego and Imperial County Chapter at its awards event in Mission Valley.

“Everything is subject to the effects of aging, even critical water infrastructure,” said OMWD Board Secretary Larry Watt. “To help avoid emergency water outages and provide dependable service to customers, our preventative maintenance program includes replacement of infrastructure before it fails. Through these new pipelines, OMWD can continue to provide its customers with reliable water service for decades to come.”

Demonstration Garden is Inspiration for Olivenhain MWD Customers

Using water efficiently is a way of life and an important responsibility in the San Diego region. Water users have learned how to make the most of every drop and avoid wasteful or careless habits. Homeowners are replacing impractical thirsty lawns with beautiful low-water-use landscaping.

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.

Demonstration Garden is Inspiration for Olivenhain MWD Customers

Using water efficiently is a way of life and an important responsibility in the San Diego region. Water users have learned how to make the most of every drop and avoid wasteful or careless habits. Homeowners are replacing impractical thirsty lawns with beautiful low-water-use landscaping.

Over the past decade, residents have adopted habits that not only save money, but also create vibrant yards, reduce energy use, protect natural resources, and reduce landscape maintenance.

Customers can visit the California-friendly demonstration garden and hydroponic gardening tower at OMWD’s headquarters free any day of the year. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Customers can visit the California-friendly demonstration garden and hydroponic gardening tower at OMWD’s headquarters free any day of the year. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

The sustainable landscape demonstration garden at Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s headquarters provides customers with examples of water-efficient landscaping techniques that can save water and money. Techniques include rain harvesting, and the garden features a rain barrel, a larger cistern, and a dry stream bed to capture water for later use.

Sustainable landscape demonstration gardens can help inspire homeowners to create and maintain their own beautiful, low-water-use landscapes at home. Since half of the water used in California’s urban areas goes toward landscape irrigation, any reduction contributes to successful conservation efforts.

New hydroponic gardening system 

A hydroponic growing system called a Tower Garden is the newest addition to the Olivenhain Municipal Water District's demonstration garden. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

A hydroponic growing system called a Tower Garden is the newest addition to the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s demonstration garden. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

OMWD has added a hydroponic gardening unit to its demonstration garden. It was provided through a donation by Tower Garden. The Tower Garden unit displays a water-efficient form of growing produce in a compact and vertical system. It is of particular interest to people who are looking for more water-wise methods of growing produce than traditional growing practices.

“OMWD encourages ratepayers to continue to make conservation a way of life and explore the many innovative and water-use efficient products that are available on the market,” said OMWD Board Treasurer Neal Meyers. “A great place to start is outdoors. We hope customers take advantage of free resources and rebates to design a water-efficient landscape, and consider other water-saving options like graywater and hydroponic systems.”

Save water, money and go hydroponic

Hydroponic systems grow plants in a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Hydroponic systems use less water than traditional soil-based growing systems. In commercial agricultural settings and farms, hydroponic systems can produce faster growth and higher yields of crops. The systems can also be used in home gardens.  Some units can use up to 90% less water than traditional produce gardens.

The demo garden hydroponic unit is operational and will be maintained by BCK Programs. Local scout troops in the district will help maintain the unit under supervision. The scouts earn conservation patches for their volunteer work. Crops harvested will be donated to scout volunteers, or donated to a local community food bank. A second system donated by Tower Garden will be used by BCK Programs to provide hydroponic gardening lessons in local schools.

Customers can visit the California-friendly demonstration garden and hydroponic gardening tower at OMWD’s headquarters free any day of the year. It is also viewable online. The garden highlights four key principles of sustainable landscaping. Visitors can learn about healthy soils, rainwater as a resource, climate-appropriate plants, and low-water-use irrigation.

Demonstration gardens inspire water savings

Demonstration gardens can provide inspiration to homeowners to achieve water savings through landscape makeover projects. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Demonstration gardens can provide inspiration to homeowners to achieve water savings through landscape makeover projects. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

In a 2007 survey published in The Journal of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, half of those surveyed during a visit to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, found that making a change to their landscape was due to their visit to the water conservation demonstration garden. The results illustrate the value of demonstration gardens to the community.

The demonstration garden at Olivenhain’s headquarters received financial support from the Hans & Margaret Doe Charitable Trust at San Diego Foundation, Hunter Industries, Grangetto’s Farm & Garden Supply, and Bushman USA.

(Editor’s note: The Olivenhain Municipal Water District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego County region.) 

OMWD Continues to Convert More Customer Meters to Recycled Water

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District continues to reduce demand for imported drinking water by converting additional customer meters within The Lakes Above Rancho Santa Fe community to recycled water for irrigation. This phase included the installation of four new water meters that will measure an anticipated savings of over nine million gallons of imported drinking water each year.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

OMWD Continues to Convert More Customer Meters to Recycled Water

Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District continues to reduce demand for imported drinking water by converting additional customer meters within The Lakes Above Rancho Santa Fe community to recycled water for irrigation.

The Lakes is a community in Rancho Santa Fe that will include 387 homes, large outdoor natural spaces, and several lakes, when fully developed.

4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility-CWEA 2022 Plant of the Year

OMWD Continues to Convert More Customer Meters to Recycled Water

The Olivenhain Municipal Water District continues to reduce demand for imported drinking water by converting additional customer meters within The Lakes Above Rancho Santa Fe community to recycled water for irrigation.

The Lakes is a community in Rancho Santa Fe that will include 387 homes, large outdoor natural spaces, and several lakes, when fully developed.

New water meters

This phase included the installation of four new water meters that will measure an anticipated savings of over nine million gallons of imported drinking water each year. As the entire state continues to face water supply challenges, converting customers to recycled water for irrigation strengthens the local water supply portfolio, reduces treated wastewater flows to the ocean, and reduces the region’s overall demand for imported water.

Reducing reliance on imported water

“OMWD has been proactive about converting customers to recycled water for irrigation for decades,” said OMWD board director Marco San Antonio. “Every customer converted supports the goal of reducing our reliance on imported water, and this conversion is yet another step towards fulfilling that goal.”

4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility

OMWD produces up to two million gallons of recycled water everyday at its 4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility. Additionally, OMWD is the lead agency of the North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition, a group of nine North County agencies that coordinate across jurisdictional boundaries to share resources and expand the reach of the recycled water distribution system. As a result of their proactive approach, OMWD now serves up to 15 percent of its overall demand from recycled water and continues to identify additional ways to make recycled water available to eligible customers.

(Editor’s Note: 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, and is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies).

Olivenhain Municipal Water District 4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility is California’s Plant of the Year

Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s 4S Ranch Water Reclamation Facility is the California Water Environment Association statewide 2022 Plant of the Year. The award was presented April 19 at CWEA’s Annual Conference in San Diego. The award acknowledges the facility’s accomplishments to increase water supply reliability by reducing imported water demand and plant operations.