News
Olivenhain Municipal Water District Named California’s Recycled Water Agency of the Year
The WaterReuse Association of California today recognized Olivenhain Municipal Water District as its 2019 Agency of the Year (Medium). The award was presented this morning at WateReuse’s annual conference in Garden Grove.
The Agency of the Year award honors OMWD’s development of local and regional recycled water resources that conserve potable water, as well as its leadership and its outreach to legislators, regulators, and large irrigators.
“This tremendous honor reflects OMWD’s ongoing dedication to increasing water supply reliability by reducing imported water demand,” said Ed Sprague, OMWD Board President.
WateReuse previously recognized OMWD as California’s Agency of the Year (Small) in 2005. Since that time, OMWD has significantly expanded its recycled water distribution system such that it now meets 14 percent of its demands with recycled water.
Beyond its borders, OMWD encourages a regional approach to recycled water infrastructure. It is the lead agency of the North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition, a group of nine North County agencies that coordinate across jurisdictional boundaries to efficiently and cost-effectively connect recycled water sources with demands. By working together on the North County Recycled Water Project, these agencies expect to reduce potable water use by nearly 15 billion gallons per year by 2035.
“One agency alone can’t solve the region’s water supply challenges. We need a collaborative, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible approach to water supply planning,” said Sprague.
Over the last year, OMWD has also engaged House and Senate committees and federal regulators on the importance of Title XVI grant funding, which facilitates water recycling projects.
Formed in 1990, the WateReuse Association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the beneficial and efficient uses of high quality, locally produced, sustainable water sources for the betterment of society and the environment through advocacy, education and outreach, research, and membership.
WateReuse awarded its Recycled Water Agency of the Year Award to OMWD board members and staff at its annual conference.
