MCWD Launches “CheckFreePay” Bill Payment Option at Walmart
WRD Advances Groundwater Education Through New Partnership
LAKEWOOD – The Water Replenishment District (WRD) is expanding its commitment to meaningful groundwater and recycled water education through a new partnership with Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s (MPC) Los Angeles Refinery (LAR). The $15,000 grant will support immersive student field trips to the District’s Albert Robles Center for Water Recycling and Environmental Learning (ARC) in Pico Rivera, California. This opportunity is available to schools located in LAR’s operational communities, including Carson, Wilmington, San Pedro, South Gate, and West Long Beach.
ARC includes a full-scale advanced water purification facility, a museum-quality learning center, and a climate-friendly demonstration garden. Through the staff-led ARC Field Trip Program, students, educators, and parents participate in a hands-on learning experience focused on the region’s groundwater system and how recycled water and conservation practices support long-term water reliability. The program builds on visitors’ existing knowledge of the water cycle by providing a deeper exploration of groundwater resources, water recycling, and conservation, while also introducing pathways to careers in the water industry.
MPC’s Community Investment Program fosters partnerships that positively impact workforce development, sustainability, and thriving communities. This partnership will enable students in WRD’s service area and LAR’s operational areas to explore fulfilling careers in the water industry, with a focus on conservation and economic mobility.
“We are deeply grateful to Marathon for their generous grant, which enables us to expand our educational outreach to priority communities. This funding not only supports our mission of promoting sustainability and resilience in groundwater management but also fosters community engagement by empowering the youth to become future leaders in environmental stewardship,” said WRD Board President Sergio Calderon.
“We’re proud to support WRD’s field trips, giving students a hands-on look at water sustainability and inspiring them to explore potential, related careers, all while connecting them to our shared communities,” said Vice President of Refining at MPC’s Los Angeles Refinery Erlend Myhre.
This initiative underscores both WRD and MPC’s commitment to fostering educational and career opportunities related to water sustainability, ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge and inspiration to engage with environmental topics. By empowering young people and enhancing their involvement in environmental stewardship, this partnership is poised to make a lasting, positive impact.
**************
The Water Replenishment District of Southern California is the regional groundwater management agency that protects and preserves the quantity and quality of groundwater for two of the most utilized urban basins in the State of California. The service area is home to over ten percent of California’s population residing in 43 cities in southern Los Angeles County. WRD is governed by a publicly elected Board of Directors, which includes Joy Langford, Rob Katherman, John D. S. Allen, Sergio Calderon, and Vera Robles DeWitt.
ACWA Comments in Support of HRL Program Before State Water Board
SACRAMENTO — ACWA staff and member agency representatives and organizations spoke in support of including the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (HRL) Program in the Bay-Delta Plan Update during a State Water Resources Control Board hearing Jan. 28-30.
Their public comments were the latest in ACWA’s years-long effort through public testimony, comment letters and coalition building to support the HRL Program, formerly known as Voluntary Agreements.
The State Water Board is currently considering potential updates to the Sacramento River watershed, Delta eastside tributaries, and Delta portions of the Bay-Delta Plan. ACWA supports the HRL Program as the preferred pathway for updating the Bay-Delta Plan as opposed to an approach based solely on a percentage of flows.
Speaking on Jan. 30, ACWA State Relations Advocate Stephen Pang thanked State Water Board members and staff for their work on updating the Bay-Delta Plan, and for allowing public comment during multiple hearings.
“Finally, we’d ask that the State Water Board do everything you can to advance and adopt the Sacramento-Delta update to the Bay-Delta Plan in a timely manner,” Pang said. “Finalizing the update will deliver the ecological assets required to restore species and habitats that can’t afford delay, while at the same time, providing the regulatory foundation needed to sustain economic productivity, maintain affordability and protect public health.”
ACWA is also submitting written comments with technical feedback about the HRL Program’s incorporation in the updated Bay-Delta Plan. ACWA was among several organizations speaking in support of the HRL Program, many of which highlighted the success of HRL programs already underway and producing results, as outlined in a State Water Contractors news release about the hearings.
The State Water Board is expected to consider approval of the draft final Sacramento/Delta updates by the end of 2026. Additional information and background is available online on ACWA’s website.
ACWA Announces Vision for Our Water Future Policy Initiative
ACWA is excited to announce the launch of a new policy initiative to actively elevate water-related priorities with California’s gubernatorial candidates, legislative leadership and administration officials in advance of a new governor taking office in 2027. The Vision for Our Water Future initiative will focus on integrating members’ unified priorities into campaign platforms and further establishing the association as a leading voice in shaping California’s water future. Member Briefings ACWA has scheduled a series of regional briefings to update members on this initiative and facilitate critical regional input to help shape the priorities and solutions that should be represented. These meetings are for ACWA public agency members only. For more information and to register, visit www.acwa.com/events.- Regions 1 & 5: Feb. 9, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
- Regions 6 & 7: Feb. 10, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
- Regions 2, 3 & 4: Feb. 17, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
- Regions 8, 9 & 10: Feb. 18, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Rancho Water Secures $1 Million of Federal Funding for Water Quality Treatment Project
Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water / District) announced today that, with the support and leadership of Congressman Darrell Issa, a $1 million federal Community Project Funding request was approved to fund critical water treatment infrastructure, further underscoring the Congressman’s commitment to the importance of safe and reliable water. The funding follows President Donald Trump’s signature of the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations minibus.
The funding is included in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) portion of the legislation and will be administered through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund as Community Project Funding. The directed project funding will allow Rancho Water to advance construction of treatment facilities at one of its groundwater wells to address low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS). As a result of this detection, these wells have been taken offline.
“This funding is a critical investment in the health and safety of our community,” said Jason Martin, General Manager of Rancho Water. “We are extremely grateful to Congressman Issa for his strong advocacy and continued support. This $1 million allocation strengthens our ability to address constituents of concern head-on and ensure we can continue providing safe, reliable drinking water to our customers.”
PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been widely used for decades and are now recognized as contaminants of concern. Water and wastewater providers have had to work to address these concerns even though they are passive receivers of these chemicals. The authorized funding will support the construction of treatment infrastructure designed to remove PFAS from water before it can safely be delivered to customers.
Rancho Water will continue coordinating with state and federal partners as the project moves toward implementation. For more information about construction projects at Rancho Water, visit RanchoWater.com/construction.
Dry Conditions Reduce Snowpack Levels
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 23 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 59 percent of average for this date.
Three weeks ago, the snowpack was 89 percent of average after a series of atmospheric rivers provided relief from a slow start to the snowpack. A dry January, which is historically the wettest month of the year in California, has now eroded the gains made at the start of the year and forecasts currently show no major precipitation in the next two weeks.
“After the storms at the start of the year gave way to warm, dry conditions, those early gains we saw have flatlined or slightly eroded,” said Andy Reising, Manager of DWR’s Snow Survey’s and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “Recent California winters have seen this pattern of long, dry and warm stretches interrupted by intense storms. We are now two-thirds through what should be the best snow-producing months of the year. While there is still time for February and March to deliver additional snow, the farther into the season we get with below average conditions, the harder it will be to catch up.”
DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the Sierra Nevada indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 9.7 inches, or 59 percent of average for this date, compared to 67 percent on this date last year. On average, the largest snow-producing months in the Sierra Nevada are January, February, and March.
While the state has experienced a recent dry spell, major reservoirs statewide are currently 126 percent of average thanks to recent precipitation on top of three consecutive years of above-average snowpack conditions, as well efforts by California to capture and store as much water as possible.
DWR conducts four media-oriented snow surveys at Phillips Station each winter near the first of each month, January through April and, if necessary, May. The next survey is tentatively scheduled for March 2.
December Storms Allow DWR to Increase SWP Allocation
SACRAMENTO – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an increase to the State Water Project (SWP) allocation for 2026. The allocation is now 30 percent of requested supplies, up from the initial allocation of 10 percent on December 1. Storms in mid-December have made it possible for the SWP to increase the expected amount of water deliveries this year to the 29 public water agencies served by the SWP, which provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
SWP allocations are based on a number of factors including hydrological conditions, existing reservoir storage, and an assumption of dry conditions through the rest of the year. The assumption of dry conditions is increasingly important given the shrinking and warming of California’s traditional precipitation season. In December, all of California benefited from winter storms. However, January has been unseasonably dry and warm and, as a result, snowpack and precipitation are below average for this time of year.
“What Mother Nature provides each winter is the main driver of our State Water Project allocations and it is increasingly unpredictable,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “We need to adapt our water system to capture as much as possible during warm and wet storms. We are now managing during these storms with more real-time information about potential harm to state and federally protected species. Operational flexibility matters because every drop counts.”
Despite the dry January, California’s reservoirs remain above average at 125 percent statewide. Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, is at 138 percent of average for this time of year.
In December, the SWP received approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for an amendment to their Incidental Take Permit (ITP) that helps guide operations of the SWP. This amendment allows for flexibility in decision-making around fish protection actions, including for a pumping reduction known as a “first flush” action. First flush is triggered when early winter storms swell river flows. DWR analysis shows that the rules triggering these actions can sometimes be relaxed without impacts to listed species. That flexibility allowed the SWP to capture 15,000 acre-feet of additional water supply in December and January, enough to support 45,000 homes for a year. The SWP will continue utilizing real-time operational flexibility to benefit water users and the environment.
How the remainder of the season plays out will be critical to any future allocation increases. February and March are the last of our traditional wet months and additional snowstorms will be needed to boost the snowpack and set California up for the dry summer months. DWR will conduct its next snow survey later this week.
Sweetwater Authority Secures Federal Funding for Project
CHULA VISTA – Sweetwater Authority (Authority) secured $1,000,000 for the Sodium Hypochlorite Chlorination System Project in one of the federal appropriations legislations approved by Congress. The appropriation was submitted by U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) as part of the FY2026 Community Project Funding requests.
This project would replace the current chlorination system at the Robert A. Perdue Treatment Plant with a safer sodium hypochlorite (industrial strength bleach) chlorination system. In addition, a sodium hypochlorite system would significantly enhance both employee and community safety.
“On behalf of the Governing Board, we want to express our sincerest gratitude to Representative Vargas for including our project in his Community Project Funding requests,” said Chair Ditas Yamane. “The Authority will continue to pursue all available state and federal funding opportunities for capital improvement projects to lessen the financial impact on our customers.”
The earmarked amount covers a significant portion of the total anticipated project cost, financially benefiting our customers. The Authority serves approximately 200,000 residents in West Chula Vista, National City, and Bonita – a service area that is primarily made up of historically disadvantaged communities.
For more information about the Authority’s Capital Improvement Projects, visit our website.
Upper Water Elects New Board President, Dr. Katarina Garcia
MONROVIA – At the January 14th Board of Directors meeting, Dr. Katarina “Katie” Garcia was unanimously elected board president of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water). Garcia has served on the board since November 2020 and represents Division 4, which includes the communities of Covina, West Covina, and portions of Azusa and Glendora. Garcia’s appointment makes her the first Latina and Asian-Pacific Islander to serve as president in the district’s history.
During the meeting, Board President Garcia expressed her gratitude to her fellow board members, stating, “Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead this agency and I am honored to serve in this capacity. My passion has always been water education; I look forward to working with staff to reach new audiences and bring awareness to the benefits and safety of our drinking water.”
Garcia brings a deep background in science education and community leadership to her new role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University, a master’s degree in secondary education from California State University, Fullerton, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.
Her early work at ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability sparked her interest in water science and guided her 13-year career as a high school science teacher and assistant principal, where she taught Biology and AP Environmental Science, developed water-focused curriculum recognized through multiple education grants, and mentored student teams in the Metropolitan Water District’s Solar Cup program. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2018 for the West Covina Unified School District.
The Board also confirmed its 2026 officer slate, electing Dr. Anthony R. Fellow as Vice President, Ed Chavez as Treasurer, and Jennifer Santana as Secretary, with Charles Treviño continuing his service as board member.
Federal Funding Boosts Two IEUA Projects
INLAND EMPIRE – On January 23, 2026, President Trump signed into law the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. The three-bill package includes funding for two Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA/Agency) Community Projects: Cybersecurity Program Improvement ($1.18 million), advanced by Senator Adam Schiff and Chino Basin Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility ($1.092 million), advanced by Congresswoman Norma Torres.
“Approval of these projects signals great progress for our region,” stated IEUA Board President Steve Elie. “The partial federal funding of these key projects will assist and further IEUA’s long-standing commitment to maintaining and enhancing resilience, sustainability, and regional collaboration. We are extremely pleased to have had bipartisan support for these investments which will strengthen our infrastructure, protect critical systems, and advance innovative water solutions that directly benefit our constituents.”
The Cybersecurity Program Improvement Project will improve IEUA’s Cybersecurity Program by enhancing cyber–incident response and recovery capabilities; vulnerability remediation management; third-party risk management; and other information security program components. These program improvements are essential to protect IEUA’s operations, respond to and recover from cyberattack incidents quickly, and support IEUA’s mission to protect water reliability and the communities it serves.
The Chino Basin Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility will serve as a regional center for innovation, education, and research in advanced water treatment and purification. Its flexible design allows for the testing of emerging technologies. When built, this facility will optimize processes for cost-effective, full-scale advanced treatment operations. Its mission includes fostering a positive public perception of potable water reuse by offering hands-on educational opportunities, tours, workshops, and workforce development initiatives for community members, educators, students, policymakers, and industry partners. The Demonstration Facility’s research and operational insights will directly benefit our region and act as a resource to any agency interested in adopting advanced water purification practices.
“These investments by our federal partners will better position us to prepare for future challenges while we continue to deliver safe, reliable services,” Elie added. “We greatly appreciate the support from both Senator Schiff and Congresswoman Torres. These funds will help ensure our region remains a leader in innovation and resource stewardship for both current and future generations.”