Mojave Water Agency Awarded Federal Grant for Ephemeral Wash Research

###

San Juan Water District Receives Project of the Year Award

GRANITE BAY – The Sacramento Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) has selected San Juan Water District (SJWD) as the recipient of a Project of the Year Award. SJWD’s Hinkle Reservoir Floating Cover and Liner Replacement received the honor in the awards program’s Environment–Water category, and SJWD was formally recognized during an awards ceremony on August 9 in Sacramento.

Multiple factors are considered when evaluating projects for an award. The APWA Awards Program recognizes projects that exhibit outstanding management, administration, design, sustainability, construction, and community relations. Maintaining a strong association among the managing agency, designer, contractor, and construction management team who worked together to complete the project are also integral components of the evaluation.

“We are honored to be the recipient of APWA’s Project of the Year Award,” said Paul Helliker, General Manager of SJWD. “The upgrade and replacement of Hinkle Reservoir’s floating cover and liner was our largest infrastructure project in four decades. Because the Reservoir is essential to our operations, the project had to be completed during a short wintertime window, which our design, construction management, and construction contractors very successfully achieved.”

Originally built in 1916, Hinkle Reservoir was located in what is now Folsom Lake before being moved to its current site in the 1950s. To meet new environmental regulations and protect water supplies from contamination, SJWD installed a Hypalon geomembrane liner and floating cover in 1980. Although the cover and liner were originally guaranteed for 25 years, SJWD significantly extended the system’s lifespan through regular maintenance and testing to ensure its integrity. In 2022, with the system now more than 40 years old, SJWD determined a replacement was necessary. The cover and liner replacement project was completed in April of 2023, on time and under budget.

Hinkle Reservoir provides drinking water to more than 265,000 customers in the greater Sacramento region and has a total storage capacity of 62 million gallons.

August 2024 Priority Issues Update Now Available

The August 2024 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 SB 1255, Chromium-6 MCL, Proposition 218 legislation and more.

The new and previous Priority Issues Updates can be found here.

Office Of Administrative Law Approves Direct Potable Reuse Regulations

The Office of Administrative Law has approved the direct potable reuse regulations that were adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board on Dec. 19, 2023, a major milestone in diversifying California’s water supply while maintaining its safety, quality and reliability.

As approved, the regulations address a number of issues identified in a September comment letter from a coalition led by WateReuse California that includes ACWA. The regulations establish criteria for the introduction of recycled water either directly into a public water system or into a raw water supply immediately upstream of a water treatment plant.

In December, State Water Board members voted unanimously to adopt the regulations, also directing staff to provide an update on implementation of the regulations in approximately a year.

For ACWA member agencies, the regulations will facilitate the ability to expand their water recycling capabilities, a vital part of strengthening water resilience against climate change impacts. This will provide a consistent framework for water suppliers to plan ahead, know expectations, and build projects to be more drought resilient, creating certainty for water agencies to make essential local investments.

The State Water Board’s Dec. 19 decision caps a 13-year legislative and regulatory process that included extensive advocacy from California’s water and wastewater community. WateReuse California’s leadership throughout this process was critical in getting these landmark regulations adopted and approved.

ACWA recognizes water reuse as an important source of water supply for long-term water resilience and supports Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy goal of recycling and reusing 800,000 acre-feet of water per year by 2030.

EVMWD’s Advancing Women in Water and Wastewater Leadership Academy Receives Funding

LAKE ELSINORE — The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (EVMWD) is thrilled to announce that its Advancing Women in Water and Wastewater Leadership Academy has been awarded a substantial $150,000 grant by the California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program, funded by the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA). This funding will significantly bolster EVMWD’s efforts to enhance the professional development and leadership skills of women in the water and wastewater industries.

“This funding is a monumental step in empowering women within our industry,” said Rebecca Christopher, Director of Human Resources and the program facilitator at EVMWD. “This leadership academy is uniquely designed to provide the essential tools and training for women to advance their careers and step into leadership roles. The increased grant amount underscores the potential and impact of our program, and we are excited to continue our mission of fostering diversity and excellence in these critical sectors.”

The first cohort for the Advancing Women in Water and Wastewater Leadership Academy will be identified by August 30, with a kickoff meeting scheduled for September 3. This marks the beginning of a comprehensive training program designed to support women at various stages of their careers in the water and wastewater industries.

The grant application, authored by an all-women team at EVMWD—Serena Johns, Grant Program Administrator; Erin Sasse, Government Relations Officer; Sylvia Ornelas, Community Affairs Supervisor; and Rebecca Christopher, Director of Human Resources—received overwhelming support, including pivotal endorsements from Darcy Burke, Board Director, Division 1; Christina Henry, Director of Community Relations; and Kim Cousins, President/CEO of the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce. Rated number one out of all applications, the program’s innovative and impactful approach convinced the awarding agency to increase the grant to $150,000, highlighting the academy’s unique potential to serve a disadvantaged community and set new standards in the industry.

The leadership training grant supports:
Improving access to career ladder pathways.
Enhancing job-related skills needed for advancement.
Eliminating structural barriers to executive leadership opportunities for women in the water and wastewater industry.

EVMWD’s Advancing Women in Water and Wastewater Leadership Academy stands out as the first of its kind, offering a creative and unprecedented approach to leadership training in the water and wastewater sectors. It joins three other distinguished programs in receiving this competitive grant, including the CA-NV American Water Works Association’s Advanced Water Utility Management Leadership Program (AWUML), the Water Education for Latino Leaders’ Educate to Lead (E2L) initiative and the Leading with Courage Network’s Next Level Leadership Program.

These leadership training grants, totaling $500,000, are part of the broader California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program, launched in 2023 by the California Municipal Utilities Association(CMUA) in partnership with the California African American Water Education Foundation, Jewish Vocational Service and Water Education for Latino Leaders. The $4 million program is funded through a grant from the California Workforce Development Board’s High Road Training Partnership Program.

For more information about the Advancing Women in Water and Wastewater Leadership Academy, please contact Sylvia Ornelas.

WVWD’s Internship Program Fuels Career Aspirations for Local High School Students

WALNUT – Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) proudly celebrates the successful conclusion of its 8-week summer internship program. This year’s program provided 11 outstanding local high school students with immersive, hands-on work experience. Building on the success of past years, the program aimed to give interns a thorough understanding of different roles within the District and to inspire them with potential career opportunities. Notably, a number of current WVWD employees launched their careers through the internship program, demonstrating its lasting impact.

The recruitment process for the program was designed to be both comprehensive and accessible for students. It included introductory presentations at the high schools, an online pre-interview workshop offering interview preparation tips, and finally, in-person interviews at the District office. From a pool of over 150 applicants, 11 students were chosen to participate. Each intern was placed in a department that matched their skills and interests expressed during the interview, with placements in Customer Service, Engineering, External Affairs and Sustainability, General Services, Water Production, and Field Operations.

Feedback from this year’s interns has been overwhelmingly positive, with many mentioning an increase in self-confidence and determination to continue building new skills. “Our team was thrilled with the commitment and progress of these interns,” said Sheryl Shaw, General Manager of WVWD. “Our goal was to support students, particularly those uncertain of their post-high school paths, by exposing them to career possibilities they might not have previously considered. We look forward to continuing this valuable program.”

Following the program, several interns have shown a strong interest in pursuing careers in the water industry directly after high school, with some already preparing for water distribution and treatment exams and seeking mentorship from our staff. This growing enthusiasm highlights the program’s success in both educating and inspiring the next generation of water professionals.

###

About WVWD

WVWD was formed in 1952, and after seven decades of service to the community, the District operates and maintains a drinking water and recycled water system serving a population of nearly 100,000 residents. The WVWD team is comprised of water professionals dedicated to meeting the water supply needs of the communities it serves (Diamond Bar, Walnut, Rowland Heights, Pomona, Industry, and West Covina). WVWD is committed to leading with integrity and does so through excellence in customer service, communication, accountability, reliability, efficiency, and quality. 

How Have California’s Water Issues Changed in 30 Years?

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has posted an online retrospective and look ahead at California water issues since its founding thirty years ago.

Functioning as a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, the PPIC’s mission is to inform and improve public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. Water issues have played a prominent role, and staff experts from the PPIC’s Water Policy Center shared their perspectives through a Q&A-formatted blog post.

Biomass Plant in Dobbins Headed for Construction with Financing from Yuba Water Agency

Construction of a 5-megawatt biomass plant near Dobbins in Yuba County can now move forward with the help of a $7 million grant and $8.3 million low-interest loan to the Camptonville Community Partnership approved today by Yuba Water Agency. The facility will process woody material from forest restoration projects in the Yuba River watershed, increasing the pace and scale of work to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

“As we watch the destruction of the Park Fire in neighboring Butte County, we’re reminded of the very real threat of wildfire in our backyard and the importance of projects like this one to make our forests more resilient,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey.

Currently, projects within Yuba County and the greater North Yuba River watershed require contractors to truck removed woody material from the forest to existing biomass plants that are several hours away or secure permits to burn the material on site. Having a biomass plant in Dobbins will not only reduce the cost of implementation for regional projects but will also bolster the local community with new jobs and business opportunities.

“Trucking wood chips and other materials from forest health treatment sites is costly, increases emissions and is rarely covered by state and federal grants that help fund these projects,” explained Yuba Water Watershed Manager JoAnna Lessard. “Having a local biomass plant to process these materials removes a huge barrier to scaling up forest health and wildfire risk reduction efforts in the region.”

Camptonville Community Partnership already owns the land where the biomass plant will be built and is close to finalizing an interconnection and power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric. Those agreements include plans to upgrade the electrical infrastructure to allow the biomass plant to connect to the grid once it’s built. Camptonville Community Partnership is partnering with Engeman Energy on construction and operations, with a goal of bringing the plant online by 2026.

Camptonville Community Partnership and Yuba Water are both part of the nine-member North Yuba Forest Partnership, which identified biomass processing and the lack of a local biomass facility as a key barrier to completing needed forest health treatments in the Yuba River watershed. The partnership is working on an unprecedented scale to restore 275,000 acres of Sierra Nevada forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

As the owner and operator of New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir and other critical facilities in the Yuba River watershed, Yuba Water leadership is keenly aware of the wildfire risks and has been a longtime supporter of the project, previously providing funding to help with planning and land acquisition. This latest round of funding will cover construction of the biomass plant, with a 20-year loan at a three percent interest rate.

Visit yubawater.org to learn more about how Yuba Water is powering a brighter future for Yuba County through community investments.

OCWD Achieves Record Year of Groundwater Recharge

FOUNTAIN VALLEY – The Orange County Water District (OCWD) proudly announces a record-breaking accomplishment in groundwater recharge for the fiscal year 2023-24: more than 90 billion gallons of water have been put back into the ground to further increase Orange County’s drinking water supply.

“Achieving this milestone is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire staff, particularly our recharge operators in Anaheim,” said OCWD President Cathy Green. “Their commitment and expertise have been instrumental in maintaining our mission of providing a reliable water supply for our communities.”

Fulfilled during July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, this record year reflects the highest volume of water replenished into the District’s recharge basins in Anaheim and Orange since record keeping began in the 1940s. It is a result of OCWD’s comprehensive approach to managing the groundwater basin, which includes using diverse sources of water such as the Santa Ana River, stormwater capture, and recycled water from the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest water reuse facility, to refill the groundwater basin.

“Our success is built on decades of smart water management practices and collaboration with our 19 cities and retail water districts,” added John Kennedy, OCWD general manager. “By working together, we’re able to supply enough water for their 2.5 million customers and have enough storage on hand for future years. In fact, we’re very proud to report that our groundwater basin is currently 100% full.”

For more than 90 years, OCWD has pioneered new and innovative methods to maximize the groundwater basin and enhance the region’s water supply through strategic planning and investments. From expanding water recycling at the GWRS to implementing programs that increase stormwater capture, these efforts, and more, highlight OCWD’s commitment to ensuring a resilient water supply today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

The Orange County Water District manages the local groundwater basin serving 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. For more information about OCWD, please visit www.ocwd.com and follow @OCWaterDistrict on social media.

Educating for a Green Economy: A Call to Action in California’s Water Industry

The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) is pleased to be a contributor to the California Environmental Literacy Initiative’s recently published white paper “Call to Action: Educating for a Green Economy.” This effort aligns with the Mission and Vision of the Water Energy Education Alliance (WEEA), a California workforce initiative administered and led by MWDOC, with more than 200 organizations actively participating statewide to address the urgent need for equitable, sustainable career pathways to water and energy jobs for all California students.

The white paper is a precursor to the creation of a statewide strategic plan and includes a WEEA case study of model California workforce development initiatives and career training programs like The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and West Basin Municipal Water District’s successful cybersecurity internship programs with Tomorrows Talent, the Water Replenishment District’s Ad Hoc Committee and internship program with PERC Water, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality career information to students, and MWDOC’s K-14 education programs that have been reimaged to include hands-on, interactive, environment, and place-based learning activities with a career exploration component.

California’s environmental systems are under substantial pressure, making it imperative to cultivate a workforce capable of addressing these challenges. These roles not only support environmental sustainability but also enhance economic mobility statewide. WEEA fosters collaboration, advocates for investments in education, and actively works to promote green and blue career pathways.

To learn more, visit www.mwdoc.com/weea