President's Message
Shawn Dewane
On June 2, the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) was recognized
on a global platform during Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) for more than
80 years of planning and investing in innovative water reliability projects. As
the sixth recipient of the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, the District was
commended for its pioneering work in groundwater management and water reclamation
using advanced water reuse technologies and its extensive water quality monitoring.
Its public outreach efforts and achievements in public policy were also lauded as
a success in garnering support for projects and educating stakeholders. Signature
educational events OCWD is recognized for are the Children's Water Education
Festival and the O.C. Water Summit.
This is a tremendous achievement for the District and we are proud to share this
honor with our dedicated employees and partners who make projects like the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWRS) possible. OCWD will continue to build upon and share
its successes, so that Orange County and other communities have a roadmap to water
reliability. But it doesn't stop here.
While innovative projects and successful groundwater management have helped make
the Orange County region significantly less vulnerable to drought than other cities
and counties in California, we need to do more to protect and maximize water supplies.
We must tap into the 1.3 billion gallons of treated wastewater from our sewer systems
that are lost to the Pacific Ocean every day in Southern California. We must also
explore alternative solutions such as ocean desalination and water transfers to
strengthen our water reliability portfolio.
OCWD will continue to use science, technology and proven experience to ensure sustainable
water supplies for today, tomorrow and for future generations. The more than 40
awards it has received are a testament to its diligence and dedication to accomplish
this mission.
GWRS Makes Room for Expansion
The world's largest advanced water purification system for potable reuse is
getting even bigger. The Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) is nearing completion
of an initial expansion and will soon produce 100 million gallons of water per day
(100 MGD). OCWD took a major step towards this milestone as it shut down the plant
for an estimated 21 days to connect piping and electrical and control tie-ins necessary
to incorporate the expansion into the existing facility.
Since its inception the GWRS has produced more than 135 billion gallons of water
that has helped replenish Orange County's groundwater basin managed by the District,
while also providing water to its seawater intrusion barrier to protect the basin.
When completed in early 2015, the $143 million expansion will bring the total GWRS
production to 103,000 acre-feet of water per year (AFY), enough for 850,000 people.
To read a press release about the expansion and to view videos of its progress,
please visit
www.gwrsystem.com.
Bond…Water Bond
Drawing inspiration from the James Bond movie series, the 7th annual O.C. Water
Summit was hosted to engage and inform participants about today's most important
water issues, projects and emerging technologies. Nearly 400 individuals attended
the event hosted by the Orange County Water District and the Municipal Water District
of Orange County. They heard from business leaders, the agriculture industry and
policy makers about topics such as solutions to fix the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta,
the importance of water reliability to food production and the economy and the politics
of the proposed water bond. Featured speakers included U.S. Congressman John Garamendi,
California State Under-Secretary of Food and Agriculture Sandra Schubert, Hurley
Vice President of Global Outreach Ben Edwards and The Coca-Cola Company Vice President
of Environment and Sustainability Bruce Karas.
The O.C. Water Summit was made possible by generous sponsors, expert speakers and
interested participants. It sought to engage citizens and leave them with the knowledge
and know-how to make informed policy decisions and take actions that will ensure
Southern California's water supplies remain reliable not only for today but
also for years to come.
To view presentations and video footage of the event, please visit
www.ocwatersummit.com. Stay tuned
for information about next year's Summit, which will take place May 15, 2015.
OCWD Resumes MBI Project
This month the Orange County Water District resumed the second phase of its Mid
Basin Injection (MBI) Well Project that began in 2011. Once completed this project
will expand the Groundwater Replenishment System distribution system, increase north
and central Orange County's water supply and ensure ongoing water quality.
During the first phase of this project OCWD constructed three wells. The second
phase will make the wells operational and able to directly inject 2,000-3,000 acre-feet
a year of GWRS water into the groundwater basin OCWD manages. The basin is a vital
resource to north and central Orange County as it supplies water to 19 cities and
water agencies serving more than 2.4 million residents.
The MBI project aligns with OCWD's mission to provide local water retailers
with reliable, high-quality water. For more information, please refer to the project
fact sheet posted at
OCWD's Construction Updates.
June Employee of the Month
The OCWD employee of the month (EOM) program was established to recognize outstanding
District employees and to acknowledge their contributions to OCWD. The program commends
employees for high-quality work, promoting teamwork, cost-saving ideas, and a high
level of dedication to their work. The District recognizes OCWD employees as the
source of its strength, reputation and innovation.
Quan Kha, a new organic lab technician, was recognized as the June EOM. He implemented
a creative sample processing technique that improved the extraction procedure for
Method 539 established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This method
is part of the EPA's third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3).
The District is one of three public agency labs to provide a full UCMR3 program.
Quan's new sampling technique is more efficient and has saved the District thousands
of dollars in resources. He is a highly motivated employee who is always willing
to take on additional duties and strives to develop innovative approaches to improve
the lab's operations. Thank you and congratulations Quan!
May Tours
Nearly 300 guests toured the GWRS and other OCWD facilities in May. Following is
a list of those groups and individuals: the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power Water Recycling Group; students from Citrus College; members of the public
tour; nursing students from California State University, Long Beach; staff from
Water Environment Federation; representatives from Perc Water; students from Biola
University; students from Edison High School's Adult Transition Program; students
from the University of California, Irvine; students from Mount San Jacinto College;
Michael Glenn; a director from East Orange County Water District; students from
Serrano Elementary School; staff from Hydranautics; and students from Santiago Canyon
College.
Public tours of the Groundwater Replenishment System are offered at
10 a.m. on the first Friday of every month; reservations are required. Tours may be scheduled for other days of the week, depending on staff availability. To schedule a tour or to request more information, please contact Becky Mudd at (714) 378-3362 or
bmudd@ocwd.com. To schedule a speaker, please contact Rose Wilke at (714) 378-3206 or
rwilke@ocwd.com. You may also visit
www.ocwd.com to schedule these activities online.
CONTACT US
www.ocwd.com
18700 Ward Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 378-3200
info@ocwd.com
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