New Metropolitan General Manager Addresses Water Resiliency Shivaji Deshmukh Speaks at Three Valleys’ Leadership Breakfast By Elizabeth Smilor Executive Editor address included: challenges on the Colorado River; the State Water Project and the proposed Delta Conveyance Project;
From left, Walnut Valley Water District staff members Lily Lopez and Bertha Perez with Arrica Jimenez from the San Gabriel Basin Watermaster.
City of Industry City Manager Josh Nelson and La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn.
Metropolitan’s joint recycled water project, Pure Water Southern California; infrastructure maintenance; skilled workforce development; and budget concerns.
“We are experiencing the worst hydrology on record in the Colorado River Basin. On the State Water Project, we’re seeing good precipitation, but we’re seeing that melt off more quickly.
TVMWD, one of 26 Metropolitan member agencies, is a wholesale water supplier with 13 members serving about 500,000 people. About half of Three Valleys’ supply is imported through Metropolitan. The Claremont-based agency is also a “letter of intent” holder to purchase up to 6,500 acre-feet from the Pure Water Southern California project, a joint venture of Metropolitan and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts in the planning phase. At full capacity, the program would provide enough water for 1.5 million people. “Collaboration and partnerships are key. There’s no successful project in water that’s taken place within a single entity,” Deshmukh said. “It’s important for us to find mutual benefit through not only different water agencies but through different sectors. Water recycling is a perfect example of a way to not only develop projects from a reliability standpoint but also partner with environmental protection on the wastewater side.” Claremont City Councilman Corey Calaycay left the breakfast impressed with Deshmukh’s perspective and leadership. “Water is the lifeblood of our communities. It impacts all of our residents. It impacts all the development in our city,” he said. “It’s always good to be aware of what’s happening.”
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s new General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh highlighted agency priorities and challenges recently at the Three Valleys Municipal Water District Leadership Breakfast. “This is an honor of a lifetime. Metropolitan is the nation’s largest water agency. The scale at which we operate is exciting and inspirational,” said Deshmukh of his new leadership role. “Metropolitan has established itself as a true partner not only to its member agencies, but to entities throughout the state and the Colorado River Basin. What that has resulted in is the ability to be flexible in times of drought. It’s important for us to continue that ethic in terms of how we look to the future.” Deshmukh’s tenure as Metropolitan’s General Manager began Jan. 1 after a two-month transitional period with past General Manager Deven Upadhyay, who retired. Deshmukh addressed about 115 regional water leaders and government officials on Feb. 26 at the Three Valleys breakfast at the Kellogg West Conference Center at Cal Poly Pomona. All seven members of the Three Valleys Board of Directors were in attendance. “It was great opportunity for our members and all of our guests to hear what Metropolitan’s priorities are under his leadership. He hit on all the big-ticket items,” said Three Valleys General Manager and Chief Engineer Matthew Litchfield, P.E. “I don’t envy all of challenges before him.” Those “big ticket” topics highlighted in Deshmukh’s keynote
Because of over pumping in the Central Valley, there are also subsidence issues with that conveyance system,” said Deshmukh in answering a question as to Metropolitan’s greatest challenges. “I say all this not to be dramatic, but these are the challenges we face with accessing these supplies. Our challenge is to deal with that in an affordable way. All the solutions are going to quite expensive.”
“At the Board level there is a very clear direction given to us and a path laid out over the next couple of years of what we need to do. I represent staff reporting to a board of 38 for an agency serving 19 million people,” Deshmukh said. “While we’ve focused on imported water since the start of Metropolitan, we have not rested in that and relied on that as our only source. We view a wide spectrum of investment opportunities.” Deshmukh explained how Metropolitan’s Climate Adaptation Master Plan for Water (CAMP4 Water) guides decision-making for staff members at the agency that delivers 40% of California’s water.
Three Valleys Board President Mike Ti appreciated that Deshmukh addressed the big potential projects as well as the importance of affordability. “Reliability and affordability go hand in hand. We are always cognizant of the impacts on our ratepayers. You can have the lowest rates, but if you don’t have the reliable water supply, it doesn’t really matter,” Ti said. “There’s a balance that we need to maintain and we have to communicate well that there are a lot of people behind the faucet. We have to explain the value that we provide.”
Three Valleys’ next Leadership Breakfast will be on June 25. For more information, visit www.threevalleys.com.
Guest speaker and Metropolitan General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh, third from left, with Three Valleys directors Jorge Marquez and Bob Kuhn on his left, and TVMWD Board President Mike Ti, directors David De Jesus and Jody Roberto, Vice President Carlos Goytia, General Manager Matt Litchfield, and Secretary/Treasurer Jeff Hanlon, on his right (L to R).
Shivaji Deshmukh addresses attendees at the Three Valleys Municipal Water District Leadership Breakfast.
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