OWD Elects New Board President
At its January meeting, the Otay Water District board of directors elected new officers to lead the District’s board for 2024. The board elected director Jose Lopez, who represents division four, as president.
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New Leadership at South Bay Water Agencies in 2024
The Otay Water District and the Sweetwater Authority start 2024 with new officers to lead their respective boards of directors.
Lopez elected President of Otay Water District Board
(L to R) Board President Jose Lopez, Vice President Ryan Keyes, Treasuer Mark Robak. Photo: Otay Water District
The Otay Water District board elected director Jose Lopez, who represents division four, as president.
Lopez’s election as president follows one year of board leadership under past president Mark Robak. Lopez will serve a one-year term through January 2025. He has been a board member since December 2020. He also served on the Otay WD board from 2001 to 2016.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust that my fellow water board members place in me by electing me as president. Serving our customers in this role is a responsibility I take seriously,” says Lopez.
“As we embark on this journey together, my focus will be on fostering collaboration, transparency, and sustainable water management practices. Our community’s access to high-quality and reliable water is of utmost importance, and I am committed to working diligently to ensure the continued well-being of our residents. I look forward to building upon the solid foundation laid by my predecessors and collaborating with our dedicated board and staff to address the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
Lopez experience in multiple assignments
In 2023, Lopez served as vice president of the board. He also served on the district’s engineering, operations, water resources, desalination project, and ad hoc legal services committees. He also represents the district at various local organizations and task forces including the OWD and Sweetwater Authority Task Force to develop recycled water opportunities, Water Conservation Garden Authority, and South County Economic Development Council.
Lopez also previously held the position of treasurer in 2004, 2021, and 2022. Also, during his tenure on the Otay board from 2001 to 2016, he served as president of the board in 2002, 2005, and 2012 to 2015. He also served as vice president from 2006 to 2010, and 2016.
Lopez retired as an Assistant Fire Marshal from the San Diego Fire Department in 2011. He also served on the San Diego County Water Authority board from 2002 to 2003. He has an Associate of Science in Fire Science/Fire Suppression from San Diego Miramar College and attended the University of California, San Diego. He lives in Chula Vista.
The board also elected board member Ryan Keyes, serving division two, as vice president, and Mark Robak, serving division five, as treasurer.
The five-member board of directors is the governing body of the Otay Water District and is responsible for setting rates for service, taxes, policies, ordinances, adopting the annual budget and other matters related to the management and operation of the agency.
Martinez-Perez Elected Board Chair of Sweetwater Authority Board
The Sweetwater Authority Governing Board elected Paulina Martinez-Perez as Board Chair and Director Hector Martinez as Vice Chair for the 2024 term. Photo: Sweetwater Authority
The Sweetwater Authority Governing Board elected Paulina Martinez-Perez as Board Chair and Director Hector Martinez as Vice Chair for the 2024 term. Martinez-Perez has served on the Board since 2020 and Martinez has served since 2018.
Martinez-Perez and Martinez will engage in an all-day Strategic Plan Workshop along with the entire Authority Board and department heads to evaluate the progress of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Work Plan initiatives, and set goals and priorities for the next fiscal year.
“We have a busy year ahead working to advance the policies, plans and programs that make the Authority a premier water agency,” said Martinez-Perez. “I’m honored to serve as Chair during this exciting time, and to work together with the Board to ensure we maintain a safe and reliable water supply for our current and future customers.”
The Sweetwater Authority Board also adopted Resolution 23-23, adjusting the Authority Board Meeting times to 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.
The Sweetwater Authority Governing Board is composed of five directors elected by division by the citizens of the district, and two directors appointed by the Mayor of National City, subject to City Council confirmation.
At its December 2023 meeting, the South Bay Irrigation District Board of Directors also appointed new officers for the 2024 term. Director Manny Delgado will serve as President and Director Josie Calderon-Scott as Vice President. SBID meetings will now be held at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
San Diego County Student Artwork Featured in 2024 Calendar
Six San Diego County student artists from four member water agencies are among the 37 Southern California students whose artwork will appear in the 2024 “Being Water Wise Is… ” Student Art Calendar.
The “Being Water Wise Is… ” Student Art Calendar is produced annually by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It showcases student artwork illustrating important water conservation messages in a visual way. Water agencies submit artwork for consideration among the winners of their local competitions. This year, 26 Southern California water agencies submitted 234 entries.
The inspiring artwork and artists were recognized during a virtual awards event on Thursday, December 14. MWD Board Chairman Adán Ortega, Jr. thanked the students, their family and friends, and the many educators who support the annual contest.
Ortega Jr. told the winning students, “You are truly extraordinary and helping us to see water in new ways and bringing us greater appreciation for its value to our daily lives, and to our society overall.
“Thousands of people will see the calendar that will be published, celebrating winning entries, and learn from it as well.”
South Bay Represented by Otay and Sweetwater Winners
Student artwork from winners in the Otay Water District and Sweetwater Authority are featured on the August 2024 page.
Artwork created by Sophia Garvida, a seventh-grade Bonita Vista Middle School student, was selected for the calendar. Sophia represents the Otay Water District and won first place in the middle school category in the district’s service area competition.
Fifth grader Sofia Cardenas Loera, who attends the STEAM Academy in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, will also have her winning artwork in the calendar after winning the local competition.
“These two talented students used their artistic skills to share an important conservation message and illustrate the value of using water wisely. All of us at the Otay Water District are proud to have their creativity represent the district,” said Eileen Salmeron, communications assistant and poster contest coordinator.
Alondra Contreras Olvera, a third-grade student at Allen Elementary School, represents Sweetwater Authority in the calendar. The three South Bay student posters are on the August 2024 page.
East County Winners From Helix and Padre Dam
Catalina Jones is a second-time winner.
Catalina Raquel Jones, is a talented seventh grade student at La Mesa Arts Academy whose artwork represents the Helix Water District in the 2024 calendar. Catalina is a second-time winner. Her artwork was also selected last year when she was a sixth-grade student at Lemon Avenue Elementary School.
Cameron Kovar is the second winner from the Helix Water District.
Cameryn Kovar, who attends St. Martin of Tours Academy-La Mesa and is also in seventh grade, is the second Helix Water District student whose artwork will appear in the calendar. The Helix winners are on the July 2024 page.
Hayley Novotny’s winning student artwork represents the Padre Dam Municipal Water District in the 2024 calendar.
Hayley Novotny, a fifth-grade student at Cajon Park School in Santee, represents the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Her artwork is on the December 2024 page of the calendar.
Conservation message delivered through artistic expression
The “Water is Life” Student Art Calendar was created 35 years ago. It selects student art submitted from kindergarten through grade 12 to help convey water conservation messages. The annual calendar is distributed to 13,000 recipients each year.
Artwork from the student winners will remain on display at Metropolitan’s downtown Los Angeles headquarters in January. The traveling artwork will visit member agencies throughout the year. View the entire calendar here.
Water Conservation Garden to Run Out of Money Soon; Executive Director Resigns Amid Financial Turmoil
The Water Conservation Garden will run out of money as early as mid-December, the nonprofit organization Friends of The Water Conservation Garden stated at an October 24 meeting of the Water Conservation Garden Joint Powers Authority, the consortium of public utility and governmental entities that oversees the Friends.
Member Agencies Support Holiday Giving Programs
San Diego region’s water and wastewater agency employees pitched in to carry on a tradition of holiday giving in 2023 to benefit a wide array of nonprofit community services.
Helix and Otay Water District Employees Feed A Need
The Helix Water District’s Peanut Butter Drive supports the San Diego Food Bank this holiday season. Photo: Helix Water District
The Helix Water District employee volunteer program kicked off the giving season in October with a peanut butter drive for the San Diego Food Bank. Public Affairs Supervisor Addie Woodard explains that peanut butter is a nutrient-rich superfood popular with kids and is also shelf-stable. One jar can provide more than 12 sandwiches. But it’s expensive for the Food Bank to purchase, making it a valuable donation item.
Generous Helix employees contributed more than 100 pounds of peanut butter. Woodward offered a lighthearted “That’s nuts!” at the effort’s inaugural success.
Otay Water District employees offered generous support to the San Diego Food Bank. Photo: San Diego Food Bank
Otay Water District employees also support the San Diego Food Bank by making giving simple through their virtual holiday food drive. The District encouraged its more than 240,000 customers, employees, and anyone in a position to join the fight against hunger by donating safely online at their convenience.
Through the Virtual Food Drive, donors select and purchase food items, such as canned meats, vegetables, fruits, peanut butter, oatmeal, and cereal. Monetary donations are also accepted. For every $1 donation, the San Diego Food Bank can provide two meals to families in need.
Helping Hand For Kids From Sweetwater Authority
Sweetwater Authority employees support the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program every holiday season. Photo: Sweetwater Authority
For more than two decades, Sweetwater Authority employees have been active participants in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Employees take a tag that contains information about their recipient (age, gender, and toy request). The employee shops for the item and brings them back unwrapped to the office. The Salvation Army picks up and delivers the donated toys. This year, employees donated enough toys to help make Christmas bright for 20 South County families and kids.
“Sweetwater Authority employees care about the community we serve,” said General Manager Carlos Quintero. “We’re happy to spread some holiday cheer through our participation in the Angel Tree Program.”
Generous Escondido Employees Brighten the Holidays
(L to R) City of Escondido Environmental Programs team members Emily Mixer, Marielle Decker, and Janin Rodarte share the holiday spirit. Photo: City of Escondido
City of Escondido employees participated in a Holiday Stockings and Senior Pantry drive. Employees put together holiday stockings filled with personal care items, snacks, and fun surprises for the Escondido Senior Center. Food donations support a holiday pantry for seniors, who can choose items to stretch their food budget. City staff collectively put together a total of 134 stockings and contributed over 800 food items.
Olivenhain MWD Spreads The Joy
Gifts contributed by Olivenhain Municipal Water District employees benefited the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family program. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) employees have three ongoing holiday giving traditions to help deserving recipients.
Early in the holidays, donations were collected and dropped off at the San Diego Humane Society to support its efforts to rescue and re-home pets in need.
The District participates each year in the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program. In 2023, employees gathered donations for a single mom and her six children, two seniors, and two veterans.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District General Manager Kim Thorner and Education and Conservation Coordinator Teresa Chase with some of the 255 nut baskets sold, with $5,610 going to Water for People. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District.
For 18 years, OMWD employees have enthusiastically supported fundraising for the nonprofit Water for People. It works with communities across the globe to install safe water and sanitation systems, educating local people on good health practices and saving thousands of lives.
During the holiday season, the San Diego chapter holds a competition to sell the most gift baskets donated by Wonderful Pistachios. Employees help assemble the baskets for sale. OMWD was the top donor again in 2023, with 255 baskets sold for a donation total of $5,610 going to Water for People.
Bureau of Reclamation Group Visits South Bay Water Agencies
A planning and training workshop for 100 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees in San Diego County included tours of Sweetwater Authority and Otay Water District facilities. The Reclamation employees visited San Diego in September to participate in a planning training workshop.
Bureau of Reclamation Group Visits South Bay Water Agencies
A planning and training workshop for 100 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees in San Diego County included tours of Sweetwater Authority and Otay Water District facilities.
The Reclamation employees visited San Diego in September to participate in a planning training workshop. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act have brought significant funding in support of Reclamation’s mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Planning provides critical support for Reclamation’s leadership when making investment decisions.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees share their experiences and lessons learned during their recent San Diego visit. Photo: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
The goal of this workshop was to provide training and resources for planners and project managers involved in studies to evaluate federal investments in water resources. In addition to promoting planning expertise across Reclamation, the Planning Training Workshop also served to share experiences and lessons learned with other planners and project managers.
Key topics at this event included the Federal planning process, technical, environmental, economic, and financial feasibility, and climate change. A key benefit of the trip was the opportunity to connect with regional partners, including tours of the Sweetwater Authority Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility in Chula Vista and the Otay Water District binational pipeline on the U.S./Mexico border.
Building skills and relationships
Reclamation Planning Conference attendees tour the U.S./Mexico border. Photo: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
“We were thrilled to bring together so many Reclamation employees to discuss how water resources planning can help meet the increasingly challenging, complex, and diverse needs for water and power now and into the future,” said Karl Stock, manager of the Reclamation Law Administration Division.
“It was a pleasure to host such a talented team of water professionals from the Bureau of Reclamation at our award-winning Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility and share with them the critical role our facility plays in providing a drought-proof, sustainable water supply for Sweetwater Authority customers,” said Carlos Quintero, Sweetwater Authority general manager.
Bureau of Reclamation funding supports regional expansion project
The Richard A. Reynolds Desalination Facility is a state-of-the-art groundwater desalination facility Photo: Sweetwater Authority
The Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility uses reverse-osmosis treatment (R/O) to remove dissolved salts and microscopic particles, such as bacteria and other contaminants that could be found in alluvial groundwater. The R/O process water is treated to prevent corrosion and chlorine and ammonia are added to further assure disinfection.
The desalination facility began operating in 1999 drawing brackish groundwater from five wells. In 2017, the facility was expanded to include installation of three additional reverse osmosis trains, a new iron and manganese treatment system, the drilling of five new brackish groundwater wells, the installation of 23,000 feet of pipe, and additional system upgrades. The $42 million expansion project was made possible by significant grant funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the State of California.
The facility now has a full production potential of 10 million gallons of drinking water per day, enough for approximately 18,000 families, and provides Sweetwater Authority customers with about 30% of their annual water supply. The sustainable design of the plant also includes 2,950 ground-mounted solar PV panels as an alternative energy source. The solar array offsets the cost of treating water and reduces the facility’s overall carbon footprint.
(Editor’s note: The Sweetwater Authority and the Otay Water District are two of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the metropolitan San Diego region.)
Six Student Artists Win 2023 Otay Poster Contest
Six students from schools in the Otay Water District are the winners of the annual Student Poster Contest. More than 53 students submitted entries from schools in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Spring Valley. The poster art depicts the value of water and using water wisely.
Six Student Artists Win 2023 Otay Poster Contest
Six students from schools in the Otay Water District are the winners of the annual Student Poster Contest. More than 53 students submitted entries from schools in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Spring Valley. The poster art depicts the value of water and using water wisely.
Students in all grades were asked to create and submit a poster illustrating the theme “Being water wise is…” The District selected winners for the elementary and middle school categories. No high school entries were submitted.
“We are impressed by the representation of water conservation and stewardship in each participant’s artwork,” said Eileen Salmeron, communications assistant and contest coordinator. “Through this program, we find confidence that the young generations have a great awareness of the importance of taking good care of our most precious resource for the future needs of our region.”
Middle school winners
First place: Sophia Garvida, seventh grade, Bonita Vista Middle School. Photo: Otay Water District
Second place: Andrian Oraha, sixth grade, Hillsdale Middle School. Photo: Otay Water District
Third place: Alyssa Burkard, sixth grade, Hillsdale Middle School. Photo: Otay Water District
Elementary school winners
First place: Elias Mendoza, fifth grade, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Photo: Otay Water District
Second place: Katherine Soehn, sixth grade, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School. Photo: Otay Water District
Third place: Sofia Cardenas Loera, fifth grade, STEAM Academy. Photo: Otay Water District
Winners honored by Otay Water District Board of Directors
The six winners will be honored at the Otay Water District monthly Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, August 2. Each winner will receive a gift card, certificate, art kit, and goody bag.
In addition, the winning posters are entered in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s annual student poster contest. MWD selects posters from participating water agencies across Southern California to feature in its 2024 regional student art calendar.
Otay Water District students have an impressive record of being selected.
Two students from the Otay Water District had their artwork featured in the 2023 MWD calendar. Khilee Haull is a seventh grader at Hillsdale Middle School and won first place in the middle school contest. Christian-Kealoha Rogacion is in the fifth grade at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and won second place in the elementary school category. Sisters Lucia Perez Valles and Sofia Perez Valles had their work featured in the 2021 MWD calendar.
To learn more about the District’s contest and other education programs, visit otaywater.gov/education-programs.
(Editor’s note: The Otay Water District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego County region.)
Nana’s Garden Wins Otay Water District’s 2023 Landscape Makeover Contest
Lois Scott transformed her El Cajon home’s green front lawn with rose bushes into a colorful water-wise landscape with a little help from her friends. Now called “Nana’s Garden,” it is this year’s Otay Water District Landscape Makeover Contest winner.
