IRWD mourns passing of Mary Aileen Matheis
Irvine Ranch Water District was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Board Member Mary Aileen Matheis — a valued leader in the water industry, the Orange County community, and in state and national professional and charitable circles.
Mary Aileen served as an IRWD Board member from 1988 to 2020, serving four times as president and eight times as vice president during that time. She was pivotal in the creation of IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh and its Campus, and in the development of the District’s water infrastructure, water efficiency and supply diversification efforts that has made IRWD an internationally recognized leader in water-supply reliability.
For 32 years, Mary Aileen guided the quality of IRWD’s values-focused culture with an unwavering spirit to do what is right — motivating others with her boundless energy, electrifying smile and grace.
“She brought a level of maturity and intellect to every room, every conversation, every meeting,” General Manager Paul Cook said. “I always enjoyed the wisdom and guidance she brought to everything she did.”
Raised at a time when educational pursuits for women were rare, Mary Aileen earned a Bachelor of Arts in American History from The Sage Colleges in New York, a Master’s in Communication from the University of Buffalo, a Master’s in Speech Communication and Rhetoric from Buffalo State University, and Doctor of Law degree from Western State College of Law.
A practicing attorney and realtor, she was also active in professional circles serving on the Legal Affairs Committee of the Association of California Water Agencies, the Independent Special District of Orange County’s Executive Committee, the Urban Water Institute, Water Education Foundation, Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Council of Governments, South Orange County Economic Coalition, Water Education Foundation, and more.
She was admitted to the National Association of Realtor’s Wall of Honor in Washington, D.C., was selected as Woman of the Year by the State Senate Chamber in Sacramento, and presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
Her civic and charitable activities included the Exchange Club of Irvine, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, the Irvine Valley College Foundation Board of Governors, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc., Shadetree Partnership, and the Catholic Charities of Orange County Board of Trustees.
“I was always amazed at Mary Aileen’s energy, focus and enthusiasm for life,” IRWD Board President Doug Reinhart said. “But despite her many significant accomplishments at IRWD, those things really pale in comparison to her inexhaustible faith and commitment to family.”
Mary Aileen passed away on March 5 after visits with her seven children and extended family members. She was 98.
Described by many who knew her as a pioneer, trailblazer, peace-maker and great human being, she will be missed and remembered by all.
Mary Aileen was a very active ACWA member. Visit our article online to view additional photos of Mary Aileen: https://www.irwd.com/liquid-news/irwd-mourns-passing-of-mary-aileen-matheis.
PWD to Hold Event with Fire Dept. & City to Discuss Prepping for Wildfires
PALMDALE – To help address concerns from the public about whether a wildfire could cause devastation in Palmdale like it did in Los Angeles in January, Palmdale Water District (PWD) will host Let’s Talk H2O! Water During Wildfires. The event will feature speakers from PWD, Los Angeles County Fire Department and the city of Palmdale. “The District recently received questions from customers about whether there will be enough water and if fire hydrants in their neighborhoods will function properly during a wildfire,” said PWD General Manager Dennis D. LaMoreaux. “We understand the concerns, so we invited fire and city officials to join us at this event to share the plans we have in place for a fire emergency. I hope the community takes this opportunity to come learn about the preparations and how to protect their homes.” Joining LaMoreaux will be Scott Rogers, PWD Assistant General Manager; Amy Shadkamyan, city of Palmdale Emergency Services Administrator; and representatives from L.A. County Fire Department Division V Battalion 17. LaMoreaux and Rogers will share information that includes the District’s plans to increase water during fire weather events, designing water systems to meet fire flow requirements for developments, and an agreement allowing aircraft to use water from Lake Palmdale. Fire and city officials will cover the topics of hydrants, how fires are fought, the city’s emergency plan and home protection. Since 1918, the Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable cost. We pride ourselves on providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help our residents; educating the community on water-use efficiency; and leading our region in researching and implementing emerging technologies that increase operational efficiency. For more information about PWD, visit www.palmdalewater.org.###
ACWA Co-sponsors SB 454 to Address PFAS in Water, Wastewater
ACWA, in partnership with the League of California Cities, is co-sponsoring SB 454, which would create a statewide PFAS Mitigation Fund intended to help agencies pay for manmade PFAS contamination cleanup in drinking water and wastewater.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton), would create a much-needed funding tool to help water and wastewater agencies pay for costs that would otherwise be covered by local ratepayers on their water and wastewater bills. There are currently multiple sources of funding aimed at addressing PFAS contamination (current and potentially future legal settlements, federal funding, state bond funding, etc.) that could be directed to this fund.
The bill has been assigned to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
ACWA distributed an Alert March 6 asking members to sign on to a coalition letter. More information is available in the Alert online.
March 2025 Priority Issues Update Now Available
The March 2025 Priority Issues Update is now available online to members.
The update is a summary of the latest developments on issues of interest to ACWA members. This issue contains information on water theft, PFAS, water rights and more.
The new and previous Priority Issues Updates can be found here.
Moulton Niguel Maintains Prestigious “AAA” Credit Rating
Moulton Niguel Water District has once again secured the highest possible credit rating from two of the world’s leading credit rating agencies. Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings have reaffirmed their highest possible AAA-credit rating for Moulton Niguel Water District, based on the District’s strong financial record, affordable rates, and responsible financial management. “We take great pride in meeting the rigorous financial standards set by two globally recognized rating agencies,” said Moulton Niguel President Duane D. Cave. “Moulton Niguel will continue to invest in our water infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable water, wastewater and recycled water service at affordable rates for decades to come.” S&P Global highlighted the District’s “robust and well-embedded policies and practices” as well as its “ongoing operational and financial practices, which we view as exceptional.” Fitch Ratings praised Moulton Niguel for its “exceptionally strong financial profile.” Beyond validating the District’s strong financial picture, the prestigious AAA-credit rating helps Moulton Niguel reduce its borrowing costs for long-term capital investments in its water infrastructure system. “Much like a strong personal credit score, our AAA-credit rating ensures borrowing costs remain as low as possible,” said Joone Kim-Lopez, Moulton Niguel’s CEO and General Manager.Moulton Niguel Water District delivers high-quality drinking water, recycled water and wastewater services to customers in Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano. A leader in conservation and environmental protection, Moulton Niguel maintains the lowest average monthly bill in South Orange County.
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Federal, State Orders Aim to Speed Forest Management, Reduce Wildfire Risk
SACRAMENTO — Orders issued at the state and federal level during the past weekend have the goal of reducing permitting and regulatory barriers that may impede forest management projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk, a key component in enhancing California’s headwater health, an ACWA priority issue.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 1 proclaimed a state of emergency to fast-track eligible critical wildfire prevention projects statewide, ahead of peak fire season. The proclamation “will cut bureaucratic red tape – including suspending CEQA and the Coastal Act – that is slowing down critical forest management projects,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The news release announcing Newsom’s proclamation highlighted recent firestorms that devastated entire communities in Los Angeles as a motivating factor. It also outlines similar actions undertaken by Newsom in March 2019 to expedite forest management projects ahead of challenging fire seasons in 2019 and 2020.
Also on March 1, the Trump Administration released an Executive Order titled “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production.” This order seeks to increase domestic timber production, calls for legislative approaches to streamline Endangered Species Act reviews to expedite forestry projects, and consider new categorical exclusions for timber production, forest management, wildfire risk reduction treatments, and timber thinning.
Specifically, the order directs certain federal agencies to:
1. Issue guidance and legislative proposals to increase timber production and forest management within 30 days
2. Determine a strategy to expedite forestry projects under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) within 60 days
3. Complete the Whitebark Pine Rangewide Consultation under section 7 of the ESA within 120 days
4. Consider and adopt categorical exclusions for timber production, forest management, and wildfire risk reduction treatments within 180 days, as well as categorical exclusions for timber thinning and salvage activities within 280 days
5. Eliminate undue delays and burdens for permitting processes related to timber production
6. Streamline Endangered Species Act reviews and consultations to expedite forestry projects, including through the use of ESA emergency regulations
7. Develop a report that identifies obstacles to timber production infrastructure due to ESA implementation with recommendations for procedural, regulatory, and interagency improvements.
ACWA staff in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. will continue to follow developments and advocate on member agencies’ behalf as these directives are implemented.
Helix Water District Recognized for Excellence in Human Resources
Helix Water District received the Agency of Excellence Award from the Public Sector Human Resources Association for the quality of its human resources program in 2024 and its contribution to the district’s performance.
Helix is a public utility responsible for the tap water in San Diego’s east county suburbs. Its 158 employees operate dams and reservoirs, a water treatment plant serving 500,000 people and a water distribution system serving 278,000.
Like other organizations, Helix is focused on replenishing its ranks with fresh talent as its Baby Boomer employees leave the workforce for retirement. Last year, their 4-person HR team conducted over 40 recruitments, reviewing more than 2,300 applications and conducting 232 interviews to find the best fit for the district’s culture and operational needs.
What likely attracted the attention of the PSHRA were the improvements the Helix HR team implemented in 2024 to attract a diverse and qualified pool of candidates and streamline the hiring process.
Recruiting
The team updated its marketing techniques, prospecting for talent within the communities the district serves and transforming outreach and advertising. They overhauled the standard format for job posts, began producing videos tailored to job openings and are using new media channels. They are also partnering with community cohorts to participate in local hiring events.
The team’s collaboration with veteran organizations provides a good example. They show veterans how water utilities like Helix need their unique skills and experience, which is the kind of support veterans need when they are transitioning into civilian careers.
Hiring Process
The Helix HR team also introduced new approaches to the district’s hiring process. Here, water utility workers provide a good example. This position is the gateway job into a career in water utility operations. The team’s focus on targeted recruiting for these jobs evolved into the development of new, streamlined assessments for applicants and enhancements to the training program for new hires.
The team also developed and implemented a new onboarding program to provide all new employees with a strong foundation in the district’s values and policies and procedures, so they are prepared to contribute on day one.
The team used input from employees in every department and across all levels of the organization to design the program and trained direct supervisors in their critical role in welcoming new employees, setting expectations and opening the lines of communication. The team also established a Values and Employee Recognition Committee to organize employee appreciation events and recognize employees for exhibiting district values.
Results
The initiatives are working. The team is seeing a notable increase in the quality and diversity of their applicant pool. They succeeded in reducing the time between job application submission and the job offer. And employee morale and engagement in the values program remains high.
“The Board and I are quite proud of our human resources team,” said Helix Water District Board President Dan McMillan. “We want our customers to know that the more effectively we recruit new talent, the more efficiently we operate. Our HR team is at the front end of all the steps we take to save customers money.”
Designate Voter Now for ACWA’s 2026-’27 Elections
ACWA has launched the election process for the 2026-’27 term for President, Vice President, and region board members. This year, the election process for officers and region boards is now combined. Voting for both sets of candidates will be done electronically by each member agency’s designated voter on a single ballot. Agencies can designate their voting representative now by visiting acwa.com/elections and submitting the Authorized Representative and Information Form by the June 20 deadline.
ACWA will issue an official call for candidates for President, Vice President and region boards on April 21. All candidates will have until June 20 to submit necessary documents to be eligible. Voting will take place electronically July 21 – Sept. 19 and ballots will include all qualified candidates for President, Vice President and region board members. Voting members will need to submit their ballots by 5 p.m. on Sept. 19. The winners of the election will be announced by the end of September.
An Election Committee has been appointed to facilitate the election of the President and Vice President, including confirming that candidates’ eligibility criteria have been met and endorsing preferred candidates. The 11-member committee includes one representative appointed by the current ACWA President and 10 region representatives appointed by each of the region boards.
Nominating Committees have also been appointed for each region to pursue qualified member candidates to run for the region boards. The Nominating Committee is appointed by the region chair in concurrence with the region board during odd-numbered years. The Nominating Committee will select a recommended slate for each region.
More information is available online at acwa.com/elections.
Zone 7 is Looking for Leak Detectives to Help Stop Water Waste
LIVERMORE – Zone 7 Water Agency, in partnership with California Water Service, Dublin San Ramon Services District, the City of Livermore and the City of Pleasanton, is excited to announce the Water Wise Wendy Fix-A-Leak Challenge is back for 2025! This fun and educational opportunity encourages residents to find and fix common household leaks that can waste thousands of gallons of water -and money – each year. The contest is open to residents of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and the Dougherty Valley of San Ramon. Participants who search for leaks and submit photos of their leak detective journey by the March 31 deadline will have a chance to win one of four outdoor water adventure prize packages valued at $400 — perfect for enjoying the great outdoors at nearby Lake Del Valle or Shadow Cliffs. One winner from each of the four retail water service providers within Zone 7’s service area will be randomly selected on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Minor household leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water annually in U.S. homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense® program. Every year, the EPA promotes Fix-a-Leak Week—happening this year from March 17–23, 2025—to remind Americans to check their household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Take the Challenge & Become a Water-Saving Hero! Water Wise Wendy, the Tri-Valley’s young water conservation champion, is asking everyone—including our youngest residents—to become water-saving pros with simple tips that make a big impact both indoors and outdoors. Throughout March, in celebration of Fix-a-Leak Week, Water Wise Wendy has created this leak-detecting adventure with a series of tips and a downloadable checklist to help residents find and fix leaks in their homes. The checklist is available at zone7water.com/challenge! How to Enter the Water Wise Wendy Fix-A-Leak Challenge 2025:- Visit zone7water.com/challenge to download Water-Wise Wendy’s Fix-A-Leak Checklist.
- Snap a photo of yourself or a family member searching for leaks or completing a checklist task.
- Submit your photo online to enter the challenge. Visit the website to learn how to earn two extra bonus entries!
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About Zone 7 Water Zone 7 Water Agency is one of the 10 active zones of the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The District was established by the State Legislature in October 1949 to solve problems of flooding, drainage, channel erosion and water supply and conservation in Alameda County. In 1957, by popular vote, Zone 7 became a special district governed by a seven-member board of directors. Along with flood protection, Zone 7 supplies water to all of eastern Alameda County and a population of over a quarter million residents. Treated water is sold wholesale to local retailers, including the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the California Water Service Company. Zone 7 also distributes untreated water to local agriculture operations and golf courses.West Basin Board Appoints Tommy Faavae as Division I Director
At a special meeting of the West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin or District) Board of Directors, the Board unanimously appointed Tommy Faavae as the Division I Director, filling the vacancy following Harold Williams’ resignation in January 2025. Division I encompasses the District’s service area of Carson, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates and the unincorporated Los Angeles County areas of Rancho Dominguez.
Faavae, a lifelong Carson resident, has dedicated his career to championing environmental advocacy, workforce development and equitable opportunities for all. He has led significant legislative initiatives, secured major funding for clean energy initiatives and remains deeply committed to public service. Notably, Faavae was instrumental in establishing ARCHES (Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems) which secured $1.2 billion in federal funding for renewable hydrogen solutions in California in 2023. From his technical expertise as a journeyman installing electrical systems for water infrastructure projects at Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant to his workforce development mentorship for entry-level and formerly incarcerated people within the electrical industry, Faavae remains devoted to public service and advancing community resources. Faavae has been a proud member of IBEW Local 11 for more than 25 years where he currently serves as the Business Development Manager representing more than 11,000 members and 350 electrical contractors.
“We are pleased to have so many good candidates apply, and it was a difficult decision. However, we are excited to welcome Tommy Faavae to the West Basin Board of Directors,” said West Basin Board President and Division II Director Gloria Gray. “His professional acumen will contribute significantly to the leadership of the District. The Board will continue to foster impactful progression as we tackle the complex challenges and opportunities of ensuring sustainable and equitable water solutions for the communities we serve. This collective work will further advance our mission of providing safe, reliable water and improving environmental stewardship across our region.”
“I am honored to be appointed as the West Basin Division I Director. I strongly believe in the significant impacts of public service,” said Division I Director Tommy Faavae. “I am focused on ensuring safe, clean and reliable drinking water for our residents. Together, I look forward to building a resilient future for the District and the people we serve.”
In accordance with the Municipal Water District Law (Water Code section 71000 et. seq.), the appointment of Faavae as the Division I Director will be in effect for the remainder of the position term. The General Election on November 3, 2026, will determine the director position for a full four-year term of office that would commence once the election has been certified in December 2026.