CALIFORNIA
FALL 2025
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY EDITION
Metropolitan Water District Names Shivaji Deshmukh as Incoming General Manager Page 3
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Those clock in at $2,100 and $2,200, respectively. And seawater desalination tops the chart at $2,800 per acre-foot. These numbers don’t tell us what’s “good” or “bad” — they tell us what’s real. Every water source has a role to play in our future. But understanding the cost helps us make smarter, more sustainable choices. It helps us prioritize investments, communicate with the public, and build a resilient water portfolio that balances reliability, affordability, and environmental impact. At the Southern California Water Coalition, we believe in bringing people together to have these conversations — whether it’s at a summit, in a classroom, or on social media. Because when people understand the value of water, they’re more likely to protect it. So next time someone asks, “Why don’t we just build more desalination plants?” — you’ll have a thoughtful answer. And maybe even a chart.
GUEST COLUMNIST
I f you asked someone on the street which water supply is the most expensive in California, you’d probably get a mix of guesses — maybe desalinated seawater, maybe imported wa- ter from Northern California. That’s exactly what we did at the recent BizFed Institute Water Resiliency Summit in Whittier, where we asked attendees to guess the cost of different water sources. The answers were eye-opening. Here’s the reality: in Southern California, water imported through the State Water Project costs about $600 per acre-foot. That’s on the lower end. Encouraging consumer conservation — like turf replacement programs — costs around $1,100. But stormwater capture and water recycling? “What’s a Drop Worth?”
By Elizabeth Smilor T he Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors unanimously named Shivaji Deshmukh as its General Manager effective Jan. 1, 2026. Deshmukh has served as General Manager for the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) since 2019 and has worked in regional water roles for decades. “I’m really feeling energized. I’m excited to leverage all the experience that I’ve had working within the Metropolitan service area over the past 25 years,” Deshmukh said. “Metropolitan is approaching a time of big decisions on how to balance our demand with supply challenges on the Colorado River and the State Water Project. I feel like the Board has done a great job laying out the path, so there is a clear direction as we set the
Charley Wilson is the Executive Director of the Southern California Water Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to informing Californians about our water needs and resources.
course for water reliability for the next century.” Deshmukh becomes Metropolitan’s 16th general
manager, succeeding Deven Upadhyay who stepped into the role in January after the board dismissed the previous general manager, Adel Hagekhalil. Upadhyay, who began his Metropolitan career in 1995, is retiring. The Board vote on Oct. 14 came following a five-month recruitment process. Deshmukh joined Metropolitan on Nov. 3 as general manager-designate, working closely with Upadhyay. “Shivaji Deshmukh has worked for more than 25 years to ensure Southern California communities have reliable water. He has helped develop large-scale water recycling projects, forged valuable partnerships across agencies, and advanced innovative water management programs that have multiple benefits for our region and state. He has overseen water operations, balanced budgets, and led workforces,” said Metropolitan Board Chair Adán Ortega Jr. ”And now, at Metropolitan, his charge will be to implement the groundbreaking climate adaptation strategy set by the board earlier this year to manage an increasingly volatile water supply environment. He will also address workforce and aging infrastructure issues as we plan our next biennial budget,” Ortega continued.
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Chris Lancaster Elizabeth Smilor Scott Pasewalk
Executive Editor
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CALIFORNIA WATER is published by Civic Publications, Inc. ©2025. For comments or questions, email Chris Lancaster at chris.lancaster@civicpub.com www.civicpublications.com
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OVER 60 YEARS of Water Recycling
Metropolitan’s 38-member board unanimously voted on Oct. 14 to name IEUA leader Shivaji Deshmukh as the agency’s 16th general manager effective Jan. 1, 2026.
From Metropolitan, Page 3
manager at Orange County Water District, where he oversaw the design, construction and operation of one of the state’s first and largest recycled water projects, the Groundwater Replenishment System in Orange County. Deshmukh is also president-elect of the WateReuse California Board of Trustees and serves on the US Water Alliance Board of Directors. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from UCLA. “Water resiliency is not just important to Southern California but to the entire nation. We are such a large economy here that without a reliable water supply we’re not able to provide that value,” Deshmukh said at a recent BizFed Institute water forum. (See BizFed article, page 6) Deshmukh is a big believer that long-term water reliability will only be achieved through cooperation amongst water agencies and community leaders. Stepping in to this role, he said: “We are a group of 26 member agencies that I feel work extremely well together. I’ve never seen it as productive as it is now. There is common consensus with planning and respectful dialogue even when we don’t agree on issues. Deven has done a great job creating an environment where we can have frank conversations and I hope to leverage that, preserve that and build upon that to keep all the member agencies engaged in a meaningful way.” On Jan. 1, 2026, Deshmukh will begin as general manager, earning an annual salary of $495,040, under the contract approved by Metropolitan’s 38-member board. Metropolitan, comprised of 26 member agencies, delivers water directly or indirectly to nearly 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. Metropolitan imports water from the Colorado River and from Northern California. Metropolitan has an annual operating/ capital budget of $1.8 billion, about 1,700 employees and more than 30 facilities throughout Southern California.
Charley Wilson, Executive Director of the Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC), notes that Deshmukh will take the helm at a pivotal moment. The state’s water delivery system, once considered an engineering marvel, he said, is now facing significant challenges from climate-driven extremes, aging infrastructure, and competing environmental priorities. “Persistent strain on the State Water Project, coupled with the highly politicized and over-allocated Colorado River system, has created uncertainty for Southern California’s imported water supplies,” Wilson said. “These pressures have amplified the need for Metropolitan to balance investments in local supply development, water use efficiency, and recycled water projects, while maintaining affordability for ratepayers already burdened by rising costs.” Deshmukh said the term “pivotal” is appropriately used a lot in the water sphere, “because we’re always pivoting.” He continued, “The Metropolitan Board made a very firm decision on our investment in planning dollars for the Delta Conveyance Project, so I look forward to getting to a point where we can bring data forward to the board so they can make an informed decision.” The Board, Deshmukh notes, is also nearing a milestone certification of Pure Water Southern California, a large joint water recycling project with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. At IEUA, a Metropolitan member agency, one of Shivaji’s most notable accomplishments was the development and operation of approximately 200,000 acre-feet per year of recycled water in the region. This initiative has significantly transformed the water and wastewater industries, greatly contributing to environmental sustainability and improved water resource management. Prior to his role at IEUA, he served as assistant general manager at West Basin Municipal Water District and as program
Partially treated wastewater at Whittier Narrows Water Reclamation Plant in 1962. OVER 1 TRILLION GALLONS RECYCLED
In Los Angeles County, about half of our drinking water comes from wells pumping up groundwater and the remainder is imported from hundreds of miles away—from the Colorado River and Northern California. In 1962, our Whittier Narrows Water Reclamation Plant began producing recycled water that is used to refill our groundwater basins. Since then, we have been recycling at 10 of our 11 wastewater treatment plants and, along with our water agency partners, have recycled over 1 trillion gallons. That’s enough water to fill an 8-foot diameter pipe that circles the earth 23 times! This recycling reduces the need to import water and makes our region more sustainable. Nonetheless, we are striving to do more. We have partnered with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on a project to reuse the water from our 11th treatment plant. This project could produce enough water for 1.5 million people, making it one of the world’s largest water recycling projects. For more info, contact us at info@lacsd.org or 562-908-4288, ext. 2301. For more on the new recycling project, visit www.mwdh2o.com/rrwp.
LACSD SanDistricts SanitationDistrictsLACounty www.lacsd.org
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“Some communities are 100% dependent on imported water, such as Palo Verdes peninsula where there’s not a groundwater basin. The same in Malibu, Topanga and Marina Del Rey,” said West Basin Municipal Water District Board Director Scott Houston, explaining that his district draws water from both the Colorado River and the SWP. “We have diversified our portfolio with recycled water, but we’re still 60% dependent on imported water. There will not be a day that we are not dependent on imported water.” Two recycling projects in development, Pure Water Southern California and Pure Water Los Angeles, would supply some areas with millions of gallons of purified water daily, but it would benefit the entire region, state, and even Continue Resiliency, Page 4
of that, we need drought-proof supplies to complement that when it’s not available,” said Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA). “So, in a perfect situation, we would take as much imported water as we can and store that, and then in the dry years, shift to that either stored water or access that local supply, that’s independent of the hydrologic cycle.” Deshmukh was named Metropolitan’s next general manager on Oct.14 and is transitioning into that role that begins Jan. 1, 2026. The Inland Empire, San Gabriel Valley and north Orange County have groundwater basins for storage. West Los Angeles County, Ventura and south Orange County lack groundwater storage and rely more heavily on imported water.
OUR WATER: COST AND RELIABILITY
Water Resiliency Drives Economy comes from. In focus groups, many folks just point to their faucet,” said Charley Wilson, Executive Director of the nonprofit Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC). “The actual answer to where our water comes from is much more complex. We must invest in both local, regional and state infrastructure to ensure resiliency not just for us but for the Southwestern U.S.”
By Elizabeth Smilor A coalition of business, labor, local community groups, and water leaders has united with one message: Water, the lifeblood of the Southern California economy, is worth the investment. “Climate adaptation is important, but we have to be 100% reliable now, before we can adapt to the future. It’s a value proposition,” said Board Chair Adán Ortega Jr. of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan). “I believe that what consumers are telling us is not that our rates are too high, but that they don’t think what we provide is worth what they pay. So, our burden is to tell them it’s worth it, because without it your property values will tank and it will compromise health and safety in the region.” Ortega was a keynote speaker at a recent BizFed Institute Water Resiliency Summit at the headquarters of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD). The September event highlighted the importance of both local and imported water supplies. LACSD Chief Engineer and General Manager Robert Ferrante spoke about the agency’s joint recycling project with Metropolitan, Pure Water Southern California. One panel addressed local supply projects, such as stormwater capture and recycling. A second focused on the proposed Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) to modernize that portion of the State Water Project (SWP). “First, people need to understand where their water
For the whole of Southern California, about 30% of water is from Northern California via the State Water Project (SWP) and 20% is from the Colorado River via the Colorado River Aqueduct. The SWP supplies water to 27 million people and 750,000 acres of irrigated farmland. If its service area were a nation it would rank as the world’s eighth-largest economy. The City of Los Angeles draws water, in part, from the Owens River Mono Lake Basin in the Eastern Sierras via the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Local water supplies are primarily from groundwater basins filled with a combination of imported water, stormwater capture and recycled water. Each subregion’s supply is unique, but all are developing projects from storage to recycling to desalination to bolster local supply and resiliency. “Local and imported water supplies each come with a different reliability factor. Imported water is important because it’s still is an affordable source of water, but the supply source is based on the hydrologic cycle. And because
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neighboring states. “Any entity or any area that’s using water from the Colorado River and State Water Project will benefit from Pure Water Southern California, because, as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats,” said Ferrante. “That’s what happens here. We’re increasing the overall supply to Southern California. So even though, for example, the main San Gabriel Basin will have water in its aquifer, that benefits the adjacent areas that are served because now the main San Gabriel Basin can rely more on that water and not imported water.”
Golden Mussels and its Impact to the San Gabriel Valley
A similar coalition was unable to convince the California legislature to speed up the planning schedule for the DCP, but many are optimistic the project will move ahead. “We have this existing infrastructure already in place, it just needs modernization, it needs adaptation to continue providing the benefits: this backbone, this most reliable, affordable source of water throughout the state. The Delta Conveyance is the most effective way to modernize this system,” said John Yarbrough, California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Deputy Director of the SWP. “We had a wide range of folks advocating for this project. The Governor’s trailer bill would have reduced the schedule and cost, but we are still continuing with the schedule put forth.” Three Valleys Municipal Water District Chief Engineer and General Manager Matt Litchfield and Upper San Gabriel MWD General Manager Tom Love emphasized that both local and DCP investment is necessary. “We’ve tapped out our local supply in the San Gabriel Valley. All the captured water goes to beneficial use and to recycle water we need imported water,” Love said. Litchfield explained, “If you don’t have imported water, the source of recycled water will dry up. It’s important to have a diverse
Golden mussels are small freshwater mussels that pose a significant threat to California’s water systems and ecosystems. First detected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in October 2024, their presence raised immediate concern among state and local agencies. In response, the California Fish and Game Commission took emergency action in late 2024 to list golden mussels as a restricted species, making it illegal to possess, transport, or import them in the state. This action aimed to prevent further spread of the invasive species, prompting many agencies to close lakes and reservoirs to boating and recreation. Beyond impacts to recreation, urban water agencies now face costly control and maintenance measures to protect water conveyance systems, ensure the continued delivery of critical water supplies, and avoid disruptions to imported water from the State Water Project.
At full scale, the Pure Water Southern California will produce 150 million gallons of water each day – enough to meet the demands of 500,000 homes. Pure Water Los Angeles aims to produce up to 230 million gallons of purified recycled water per day. “Put these two reuse programs together, it is by far the largest in the nation,” said Anselmo Collins, LA Department of Water and Power Senior Assistant General Manager - Water System. “The more we can work together as agencies to integrate our projects and make these regional projects, that’s going to increase the value of these programs.” Water agencies have been joined by the business community to advocate for water infrastructure. “Last year, for the first time since 1927, a strong segment of California’s water suppliers united with business advocates and a new generation of community supporters to salvage, modernize and improve our state’s water reliability,” Ortega Jr. said. Most notably, he said that at the Metropolitan meeting where the board ultimately voted to approve $140 million additional funds for the DCP, proponents for the first time outnumbered the opponents.
MONITORING AND MANAGING
Golden mussels were more recently discovered in other parts of California’s State Water Project system, including Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County. This finding confirmed that the mussels have the ability to spread through interconnected waterways, raising concern about their potential to move farther south through major water conveyance systems. Since their detection, state and local agencies have worked together to survey affected areas, assess the extent of their presence, and implement early control and monitoring measures to reduce the risk of further spread. These efforts include increased inspections, water sampling, and coordination among water agencies that depend on the State Water Project for imported supplies. For the San Gabriel Valley, the situation reinforces the importance of proactive water management and regional collaboration. The San Gabriel Valley depends on imported water to supplement local groundwater and sustain reliable water service for homes, businesses, and essential services. The detections of golden mussels in the State Water Project have prompted state and local partners to take additional precautions to protect steady water deliveries to the San Gabriel Valley. Ongoing prevention and response efforts by water agencies will help ensure the long-term reliability of water deliveries to the region and protect the health of the local water system that more than one million residents rely on.
portfolio. It’s like your 401k plan, you want to diversify as much as possible. You can’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Ortega Jr. closed the BizFed Institute forum by suggesting not just regional investment but a “Hoover Dam” level of federal involvement and investment. Without this, he said, we are just one crisis away from “Day Zero” when water doesn’t simply flow from our faucets. “I am not recommending big dams, just big thinking about what it will take to secure adequate and affordable water supplies for the next century,” he said, “because we are going in the opposite direction – very expensive scarcity.”
Photo Source: California Department of Water Resources
California Assembly Bill 149, signed by Governor Newsom on September 17, 2025, strengthens California’s defense against invasive mussels by updating the Fish and Game Code to officially classify the golden mussel as an invasive species. The San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District thanks our local elected officials for supporting this important legislation and recognizing its significance to protecting California’s water systems and ensuring the reliability of imported water for our region. The District continues to work closely with local water agencies and regional partners to maintain the reliability of imported water supplies into the San Gabriel Valley and is actively preparing a control plan to help mitigate the spread and impacts of the golden mussel. SECURING THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY’S WATER FUTURE
The San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District was formed in 1959, following a vote of the residents of Alhambra, Azusa, Monterey Park, and Sierra Madre. The District is a State Water Contractor that provides the cities with supplemental water from the State Water Project. Since its founding, the District has continued to expand to serve the needs of its four member agencies and ensure a reliable supply of groundwater in the Main San Gabriel Basin.
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WWW.SGVMWD.COM
Retired General Manager Darin Kasamoto Reflects on Successful Career
was nearing a critical point and the community was close to not being able to pump enough to supply their citizens. The district worked out a deal with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) to use its infrastructure to deliver the SGVMWD’s water directly to Sierra Madre. “They can now supplement what they need through that connection,” Kasamoto said. This deal was a big success for the SGVMWD, which is not a Metropolitan member agency. Kasamoto is also proud that under his leadership, his district provided financial help to its cities so they could update older infrastructure. A large, zero-interest loan to Sierra Madre helped Sierra Madre upgrade their pipelines. Monterey Park built a treatment plant with a zero-interest loan from the SGVMWD, and Azusa used a loan to retrofit a water storage tank, Kasamoto said. Collaboration with other area water agencies has also increased, as has public education about water issues. Kasamoto said one of the biggest changes in the water industry during his career is a new focus on outreach and education. “This is a big shift. We need to educate and let people know our water is not an infinite supply. Lifestyles have to change because of the climate we live in and because of climate change,” Kasamoto said. The district now educates children in elementary schools, staffs booths at city events, and offers free water conservation nozzles and rebates for low-flush toilets, among other programs. Finally, Kasamoto said water leaders in the future will need to find a balance between water reliability, affordability, and sustainability. They will need to build more water storage infrastructure due to climate change which brings stronger storms and more rain in shorter periods. Kasamoto strongly supports the Delta Conveyance Project and Pure Water Southern California. He said, “You have to do what you can to assure the supply. We have to pay for what it costs.”
Jose Reynoso
SGVMWD’s New General Manager T he San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District Board of Directors appointed Jose Reynoso as the District’s new General Manager, following the retirement of Darin Kasamoto. “Jose is a highly respected leader with a deep understanding of both municipal operations and water systems,” said Board President Dr. Steve Placido. “His regional experience and collaborative approach make him well-suited to continue the District’s mission in providing imported supplemental water to its member cities.” Reynoso brings more than 25 years of public service experience in local government and water management. Prior to joining the District, he served in leadership roles in several San Gabriel Valley cities, including El Monte, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and Sierra Madre, where he most recently served as City Manager. His career includes extensive experience overseeing municipal water operations, having served as Water Superintendent, Deputy Public Works Director, and Director of Utilities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of La Verne. Reynoso has served on the Board of Directors for the Raymond Basin Management Board and previously represented the City of Sierra Madre as a liaison to the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. Civic Publications, Inc. | 11
By Amy Bentley D arin Kasamoto’s long and successful career as a leader in the San Gabriel Valley water industry ended with his recent retirement, but the main issue he faced – water supply sustainability – isn’t going away, he says. Kasamoto retired Aug. 31 from the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD). He joined the district in 1997 as assistant general manager and was appointed general manager in 2004. The SGVMWD provides reliable supplemental water to Alhambra, Azusa, Monterey Park,
supply. “We went through two severe droughts in the last 10 years. We did our best with conservation and created a conservation program. We also worked with our cities to build projects that would benefit the water supply. We helped them finance some projects at zero interest and it was a win-win. This was good for us because it lessened our water demand.” He is especially proud of his work with Sierra Madre, which faced a severe water supply shortage due to its location in the Raymond Basin, which lacks adequate water recharge capability. The groundwater level in Sierra Madre
and Sierra Madre. When asked to describe his 28 years with the district in just three words, Kasamoto said, “Challenging but exciting.”
“I’ve always been a water person,” he said. “I found my job interesting and challenging. It’s not just the local picture, there is a lot going on in Sacramento too. There are so many facets to it. There was never a dull moment. There was always more to learn. The biggest challenge was maintaining a sustained water
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Three Valleys’ treatment facility, the SGVMWD’s Hydroelectric Generator, Morris Dam, Santa Fe Spreading Facilities (water capture basins used for flood control and water conservation), USG-3 (the Upper District’s primary service connection for imported water from the State Water Project), and the Congressman David Dreier Treatment Facility. The tour began and ended at the Three Valleys’ headquarters with a lunch break at the Valley County Water District offices. Tour guests learned about water pumping systems, water treatment processes, energy needs to treat water, how water quality is checked, how water is disinfected, and how a dam works, among other facts Afterward, Three Valleys Board President Mike Ti thanked Rubio for coordinating the tour and said it highlighted the interconnection of so many water agencies and their need to work together. “It goes to show that having reliable water in our service area takes a lot of effort and cooperation from different agencies,” he said. “As a water district, Three Valleys is not operating alone here. No one’s working alone here, we all work together to make things work for our customers.” WQA Executive Director Randy Schoellerman echoed Ti’s sentiments, saying, “A tour like today’s really demonstrates how the different agencies can work together because it’s a huge basin and there are many facets to it. There are many aspects to how you bring water to folks in the Valley here. I think today you are seeing how water is brought into the basin, how it’s distributed to all the producers that need it, and the water retailers that clean and deliver it to the customers. The goal is to provide legislators with a water foundation on how our region works.”
Water 101 Lawmakers and Water Officials Take Daylong Educational Tour of Water Facilities By Amy Bentley S eeing is believing, and California Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio gave her colleagues a first-hand, comprehensive lesson about the state’s vast waterworks. Rubio is known for inviting her colleagues in the State Legislature to visit her district to show them – literally – how California’s water facilities are interconnected. On June 28th, a daylong tour was coordinated by the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water), along with Three Valleys Municipal Water District (Three Valleys), San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD), the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, and San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA). The tour, called the San Gabriel Valley Water Supply Tour, marked the second time Rubio has worked with Upper Water to help educate colleagues and their staff about her district’s local water supply and water quality issues. Education is a priority for Rubio, a former teacher who also previously served on the Valley County Water District board before her election to the Legislature in 2016 representing the 48th Assembly District. “I grew up with water. It’s important for folks to understand how our water is managed in our region. I want to be an
advocate for the water industry and our region,” Rubio said. Lawmakers and their staffs, Rubio said, especially new ones, are not always familiar with the state’s vast water infrastructure. Knowing how California’s water systems work will help people make more informed decisions regarding water policy as California plans for the Delta Conveyance Project, a new infrastructure project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to make Southern California’s water delivery system more resilient against climate change. Delta Conveyance will modernize and improve water deliveries via the State Water Project from Northern California. Patty Cortez, Upper Water Assistant General Manager, said her district coordinated the tour because, “Local agencies like ours are looking for creative and interesting way to educate our state and federal elected officials. We want to build relationships across the Legislature and be a valued resource for them.” The tour included stops at, or a drive-by of, several water facilities around the San Gabriel Valley that serve various functions such as flood control, water conservation, groundwater replenishment, and water treatment. Stops included the
The Samuel B. Morris Dam spans the San Gabriel River. Built in the 1930s as a water supply facility, it is now mostly utilized for flood control and flow regulation.
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Three Valleys Directors and staff with keynote speaker Deven Upadhyay of Metropolitan, center. From left: Board Vice President Carlos Goytia, Director Jorge Marquez, Board President Mike Ti, Upadhyay, Director Jody Roberto, General Manager Matt Litchfield and Director David De Jesus.
outside sources. The film’s message was successful, as voters in 1931 approved a $220 million bond for construction and work began on the Colorado River aqueduct, which was completed in 1941. “They had to carry the momentum to get the vote of the public to be able to do that,” said Upadhyay, adding he was “amazed at the clarity of thought and absolute conviction” in the message that persuaded the public. “This is the way that we did it,” he said. “You gotta have money.” Upadhyay explained the historical funding stream for the State Water
Colorado River are essentially oversubscribed,” he said. This problem is being mitigated by southwestern states using less river water, he added. Metropolitan formed in 1928 and most of the water infrastructure is 75-80 years old. It would cost an estimated $25-40 billion to replace all Metropolitan facilities – not counting the land. The agency must fund a yearly capital program to replace and refurbish facilities, with about 1-2% replacement costs per year; 1% of $40 billion is $400 million. Metropolitan’s capital program is now about $300 million. Upadhyay observed, “That tells you where our capital program has to go just to be able to continue to maintain our system and where our workforce has to go to be able to pull off all those projects.” At the end of the presentation, Three Valleys Director David De Jesus commented, “I suppose if we enjoy what we have today, we have to fight to keep it. And that includes the fight against climate change and contamination and that is costly in nature.” Three Valleys Director Jeff Hanlon noted that in the past, the message with regards to water was, “If we build it they will come, the future is now, let’s build this infrastructure. It was a salable message.” “Now we’re in this new era where it’s, ‘We must build it and conserve. We must build it to maintain the status quo,’ which is not as sexy, right? And so I wonder, what is the message then?” said Hanlon. “What can we share to make this message imperative real to people?” Upadhyay replied, “The intensity of those discussions has to ramp up.” Three Valleys Municipal Water District is one of the 26 water agencies that comprise the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The district will hosted its 75th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 30 and the next Leadership Breakfast is planned for February 2026. Visit www.threevalleys.com.
Project (SWP) and Metropolitan, and how periods of growth allowed the agency to build large projects like the Diamond Valley Lake reservoir near Hemet. Water demand today is lower and flattening out, thanks to massive spending to increase efficiency, he said, and this likely won’t change. “The nature of the problem we have today is fundamentally different. We are no longer building big projects in order to meet growth and water demand. Instead, we are investing in the existing water system and investing in new supplies because we are losing reliability from what we had before,” Upadhyay explained. The SWP can’t produce as many acre-feet of water as it used to, he said, due to climate change and less reliable infrastructure, among other factors. Future projections show a further drop. “We’re going to have to invest to stem the tide on this,” he said. The same problem is predicted for the Colorado River as original water agreements for river water were based on higher past yields, said Upadhyay. “All of the water rights on the
Navigating Metropolitan’s Future Metropolitan Water District of Southern California faces challenges maintaining public support to fund new water reliability projects and refurbish aging infrastructure
By Amy Bentley W ater agency leaders and government officials from across the San Gabriel Valley learned about the challenges facing the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in the era of climate change as Metropolitan nears its 100th birthday in 2028. Deven Upadhyay, Metropolitan’s General Manager, delivered a keynote address called “Navigating Metropolitan’s Future”
projects to expand the water supply and refurbish aging water infrastructure. Upadhyay played a snippet of a decades-old short film shown in movie theaters a century ago to promote building the Colorado River Aqueduct. The narrator warns about the dangers of over-drafting underground water sources in Southern California and predicts that the desert would reclaim the Southland unless more water was brought in from
at the Three Valleys Municipal Water District Leadership Breakfast, held at the Kellogg West Conference Center at Cal Poly Pomona. Attendees included Three Valleys Board President Mike Ti, Vice President Carlos Goytia, Secretary/Treasurer Jeff Hanlon, Director David De Jesus, Director Jorge Marquez, and Director Jody Roberto. Water district leaders from across the Valley and representatives for elected state lawmakers were among the 125 guests at the June 26 breakfast. Upadhyay, who is retiring at year’s end, said Metropolitan has some big decisions to make in the next few years regarding how it works with member agencies to provide reliable water supplies while also maintaining public support – and spending – for
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Facility Tours and Education for All IEUA offer tours of its award-winning facilities to students, industry professionals, and community members. Visitors can tour any facility with ADA-accessible routes and personalized content. Each tour is tailored for career exploration, technical learning, or general understanding. Inspection Tours: Bridging Policy and Practice IEUA’s biannual multi-facility Inspection Tour guides the public through the Inland Empire Regional Composting Facility, Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 4, Water Quality Laboratory, and Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and learning. The tour concludes with an interactive team-building exercise in the Agency’s Laboratory Escape Room to ensure that participants are left with a memorable and meaningful experience. The Inspection Tour series offers participants the opportunity to engage with real-world water quality scenarios, understanding how every system, person, and process protects the region’s most vital resource while highlighting IEUA’s commitment to safety, compliance, and innovation. A Legacy of Learning IEUA’s educational initiatives are a strategic investment in the region’s future. In fact, two of IEUA’s current team members participated in the DEW program during their education; the experience inspired them to pursue careers in water at IEUA. In 2026, the community will see the grand re-opening of IEUA’s education center, designed to enhance programming and expand accessibility to the Agency’s impactful education program. By equipping the community with knowledge and tools to protect water resources, the Agency fosters a culture of sustainability that will ripple through generations, proving education is the most powerful tool in shaping a resilient, water-wise community. To learn more about IEUA’s education programs, visit: https://www. ieua.org/learn-about-water/
I n the heart of Southern California, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA/Agency) manages water and wastewater while cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards. Marking its 75th anniversary in 2025, IEUA has evolved from a regional water supplier into a leader in environmental stewardship and community education, bringing students out of the classroom and into real-world learning environments— wetlands, laboratories, and wastewater treatment plants— where sustainability, science, and civic engagement come to life. Education at the Heart of IEUA’s Mission IEUA offers free K-12 programs aligned with California State Curriculum and Science Technology Engineering Art and Math (STEAM) standards to build awareness around water conservation and resource management. The Agency’s primary program, Discover the Environment and Water (DEW) Field
Trips, brings students to IEUA’s 22-acre Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park to explore ecosystems, water cycles, and conservation. Teachers can also select tours of the Water Quality Laboratory or a wastewater treatment plant, where staff discuss career pathways to promote workforce development. With over 3,000 students participating in DEW during the 2024/25 school year, the Agency seeks to grow enrollment annually and enhance environmental stewardship across Southern California. Internships and Career Pathways IEUA’s paid Internship Program offers college students and recent graduates the opportunity to explore careers within a regional wastewater treatment agency, providing meaningful work experience to supplement academic learning and enhance career development.
Inspection Tour attendees exploring Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 4 and participating in the Water Quality Laboratory Escape Room (left & top right). Discover the Environment and Water Field Trip highlights (middle & bottom right).
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State-of-the-Art Water Treatment Facility Comes to Baldwin Park By Amy Bentley T he San Gabriel Valley Water Company (SGVWC) is proud to announce the launch of a new, state-of-the-art water treatment upgrade at the Plant B6 water treatment plant in Baldwin Park. Supported by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA), this new treatment process represents the latest technology in ensuring high quality drinking water. Community leaders, industry partners, and members of the media joined the water agency on Oct. 22 at the plant for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark this milestone event. The WQA is a leading partner and has supported this technology upgrade project. “This investment in advanced treatment allows us to meet and exceed the toughest water quality standards,” said Robert DiPrimio, President of SGVWC and a board member for the WQA. “This new treatment technology is part of San Gabriel’s ongoing commitment to upgrade infrastructure, strengthen water reliability, and prepare for the future needs of the community.”
multi-year project, initiated in 2018, to replace its original Ultraviolet Light/Advanced Oxidation Process (UV/AOP) treatment system with a more robust system utilizing innovative UV/AOP technology. Unlike the older system, the new UVFlex treatment system is fully enclosed, allowing water to pass through under normal operating pressure. This feature reduces both energy use and maintenance needs by eliminating the need to re-pressurize water post-treatment. The system also uses UV lamps four times larger in diameter and 85% fewer lamps than the previous design, therefore reducing the system’s overall operational footprint and maintenance costs. The SGVWC provides reliable, high-quality, safe drinking water from a mix of sources including locally-produced groundwater from 28 wells in the Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin and two wells in the Central Groundwater Basin. The company also has access to emergency connections with nearby water agencies to ensure supply reliability. The WQA is a special district that the state of California created in 1992 to plan, facilitate and provide funding to clean up contamination in the Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin which provides most of the Valley’s drinking water for over 1.5 million people. Today, with WQA’s support, 34 treatment plants are successfully removing the contaminants from the Basin, including Plant B6. Learn more at www.wqa.com .
“The WQA has done a tremendous job coordinating the cleanup of the San Gabriel Basin and we strongly support this technology upgrade at Plant B6,” said
BOARD MEMBERS
WQA Board President Lynda Noriega. “It costs
a significant amount of money to clean up the contamination in the Basin because the treatment technologies are not cheap. But this work has to be done,” she said.
Lynda Noriega Chairwoman
Robert Gonzales Vice Chairman
Lynda Noriega WQA Chairwoman
California State Water Resources Control Board Member Nichole Morgan said, “The State Water Board is proud to have been a partner since the early stages. Thanks to your innovation and commitment, you have built a cost-effective treatment system that can help keep rates low for the people of the San Gabriel Valley. The state is committed to helping communities, like the San Gabriel Valley, adapt and modernize their water infrastructure, while maintaining affordability.” Since 2005, Plant B6 has played a critical role in treating groundwater contamination in the Baldwin Park Operable Unit. (Due to the widespread water contamination, the United States Environmental Protection Agency divided up the San Gabriel Basin into more manageable “operable units.”) Plant B6 treats contaminants including Volatile Organic Compounds, Perchlorate, 1,4-Dioxane, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, and Nitrate. To strengthen its commitment to clean water and the newest technology available to achieve it, the SGVWC embarked on a
Valerie Muñoz Secretary
Bob Kuhn Treasurer
Robert DiPrimio Board Member
Ed Chavez Board Member
Mark Paulson Board Member
Randy Schoellerman Executive Director
From left: David Van – SGVWC Water Resources Project Manager, Joel Reiker – SGVWC VP Regulatory Affairs, Marty Zvirbulis – SGVWC VP Water Resources, Robert DiPrimio – SGVWC President, Robert Nicholson – SGVWC CEO, Lynn Brown – SGVWC VP Human Resources, Josh Swift – SGVWC VP Operations, Gloria Olmos - S. El Monte Mayor, Jeanette Diaz, Director of Communications SGVWC , Lynda Noriega WQA Chairwoman, Nichole Morgan - Board Member, California Water Boards
From left: Lynda Noriega, WQA Chairwoman; Senator Susan Rubio; Randy Schoellerman, WQA Executive Director; Tom Love, General Manger, Upper Water; Robert Nicholson – SGVWC CEO
(626) 338-5555 | info@wqa.com www.wqa.com
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Hello From The Watermaster Team
Our Care is Constant Every Day We engage with our partners and community to share the story of the groundwater and earth’s natural holding area, the Main San Gabriel Basin. Every Month We support our board members as they consider our ongoing drought cycle, rainfall and snowmelt to date, imported water availability, and water quality challenges to make key policy and legal decisions.
Every Quarter We bring together the Main San Gabriel Valley Water Association’s 64 members to address the challenges our constant drought cycle brings. Every Year We plan how much imported water to buy and how to address groundwater quality challenges. We also set limits so that we do not draw out more groundwater than we will receive.
Because our drought cycle is constant, our care of our groundwater and earth’s natural basin that holds it is constant, too.
To learn more of the story, visit: thewatersthatconnectus.com
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