SOURCE - Winter 2025

S URCE

CALIFORNIA–NEVADA SECTION AWWA

WINTER 2025

WATER

PROFESSIONALS

The Unseen Heroes Protecting

Their Community

April 7-10 Disneyland Hotel

& Convention Center

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Contents

WINTER 2025

14

22

24

28

IN THIS ISSUE:

6

10

12

14

From the Executive Director

Water Professionals

Annual Report

WES San Diego

Inaugural WES San Diego

Training Day Surpasses

Attendance Goals

Veteran Spotlight

Section Member Rob Craw

is Revolutionizing

Water Treatment

16

18

22

24

26

MWD Lab

MWD Names Water Quality Lab

After Distinguished Member

Dr. Michael McGuire

Engineering & Research

SCADA Control Systems

Demystified for Users

Education Update

Get to Know the

All-new H2O Know

28

30

32

34

Water Conference of the West

More Networking, More Sessions,

More of What You Love at One Conference

Global Strategies, Local Action

A Danish-Californian Dialogue on

Water Efficiency and Loss Prevention

Regulatory Update

Time to Refocus the Safe

Drinking Water Act?

2025 Scholarship

Applications Now Open

Elliott Award Winners

Fundraising

CA-NV AWWA Leads the

Nation in Water For People

Fundraising

Photos provided by (clockwise) Rob

Craw; CA-NV AWWA; California

Department of Water Resources;

and Consulate General Of Denmark.

www.ca-nv-awwa.org | WINTER 2025 5

From The Executive Director

Water

Professionals

The Unseen Heroes

Protecting Our Communities

As the days pass, watching the

destruction and loss of life from

the Palisades and Eaton fires is

heartbreaking. The nation doesn’t

get to see the water professionals

on the front lines or learn about

the challenging and grueling

tasks we face to help put these

fires out.

We know AWWA members are

out there, doing everything they

can to keep water flowing to

firefighters. They’re still out there,

long after the fires are out, fixing

pump stations, repressurizing

lines, and flushing the system so

our communities can have clean,

safe water flowing once again.

To the brave water workers of Los

Angeles: we convey a heartfelt

thank you for your unwavering

dedication and professionalism.

We know you never wavered on

the mission of protecting your

community and you are essential

to getting the job done.

6 SOURCE | WINTER 2025 | www.ca-nv-awwa.org

LA County Fire Chief Anthony

Marrone provided this clear-eyed

perspective during one briefing:

“There’s been a lot of reviews

about how many firefighters we

had, how many fire engines, how

fast we got there, or did we have

water. This was a community

conflagration, and I've never

seen fire behavior like that in

my 39 years. The challenge now

is going to be to build firewise

communities. We would love to

be able to stop it next time, but I

don't want to lie to you. It's going

to be very difficult unless we

change our tactics.”

LEARNING FROM

EACH OTHER

As the smoke clears, we’ll have an

opportunity to look back and hear

the stories about our brave and

quick thinking water pros who

saved the day. We’ll also be able

to learn ways to improve systems

and procedures.

On January 23rd, the section

proudly hosted our first wildfire

webinar for members, featuring

experts from Purdue University,

CalWARN, and the water

managers for the cities of Paradise

and Redding who shared their

lessons learned about recovering

from cataclysmic wildfires. Over

150 members attended.

Some of their insights included:

1. Start emergency planning

early and participate in your

local CalWARN division.

2. Always be networking - get

to know the fire chief, police

chief, neighboring water

systems, and local media

before disaster strikes. You’ll

need every connection you

have during the emergency.

3. Communicate early and

often with your customers

and media. Keep information

flowing to build trust and be

the voice people know they

can turn to.

4. Make sure police and OES

know water professionals are

first responders too and need

access.

5. After the fire, repressurize

lines and flush them as soon

as possible to get the system

running, don’t wait.

6. Download the Water Research

Foundation's new Concept

of Operations Plan for Water

Distribution System Testing

and Recovery.

7. Attend CA-NV AWWA

conferences, meetings, and

webinars to get to know fellow

water managers and learn

from them.

We have stacks of research and

reports from the Camp, North

Complex, Woolsey, Tubbs, and

other major fires, and there is

so much we can learn from one

another. California has seen

over 15 wind-driven wildfires in

the last 10 years, and even more

communities were devastated

by similar fires in Oregon,

Washington, Colorado, and

Hawaii. Another fire storm is

inevitable.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

How can your community

prepare? Now is the time for all

of us to work together, talk faceto-face,

and share information

widely. Now is the time to work

across lines - across districts,

across practice areas, and across

government agency silos.

I hope to see you at April’s


in Anaheim where you can hear

some of these stories about

wildfires and water systems,

contribute what you know, and

help our section build a stronger,

more resilient water profession.

Droughts, conservation,

compounds of emerging concern,

lead and copper rules, new

regulations, ageing infrastructure,

and now massive wildfires - we

face a mountain of challenges in

2025.

The Water Conference of the West

is our new, once a year CA-NV

AWWA event that will be bigger

and more inspiring than ever. On

April 7-11 at the Disneyland Hotel

in Anaheim, we can build stronger

connections with one another,

and take the time needed to help

every one of us succeed.

We also encourage you to bring

your agency’s young water

professionals and people new

to your team. Supporting their

participation in the Water

Conference of the West will help

them get connected and involved

in AWWA and set them up for

success for their entire career.

We’re experiencing a once in

a generation turnover within

our profession. Today’s young

professionals are tomorrow’s

leaders, and it’s happening fast.

They will be the ones on the front

lines battling these challenges,

and eventually they’ll be the ones

who carry on with AWWA’s vision

of a better world through better

water.

I look forward to seeing you and

your team at the Disneyland Hotel

in Anaheim!

Sue Mosburg

Cover and column header photos by Los Angeles

Department of Water and Power. These photos

are owned by the LADWP. Unless indicated

otherwise, all of this Content including but not

limited to text, graphics, data, photos, videos,

trademarks and logos, and the selection and

arrangement thereof (referred to as “Content”) is

owned by LADWP or third parties, and all rights in

relation to the Content are reserved. All Content is

protected by copyright, moral rights, trademark

and trade dress, rights of publicity, and/or other

laws. Use of Content is only authorized for

personal, news-related, non-commercial use,

and it will not be reproduced, modified, or in

any way commercially exploited. If any Content

is downloaded and used for news-related, noncommercial,

user agrees to credit LADWP.

Mission Statement

Dedicated to leading, educating, and serving

the water industry and our communities.

EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE

CHAIR

Jim Elliott

CHAIR ELECT

Gordon Williams

VICE CHAIR

Yan Zhang

PAST CHAIR

Larry Lyford

ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR

Joy Eldredge

ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR

Andrew DeGraca

Dan Armendariz

Erin Mackey

Jack Bebee

TREASURER

Todd Jorgenson

SECRETARY

Sue Mosburg

TRUSTEES

DIRECTORS

CONFERENCE

Jacquelyn Parsons

EDUCATION

Donna DiLaura

CERTIFICATION BOARD

Robert Janowski

TECHNICAL PROGRAMS

Raha Shirkhani

DIVISION CHAIRS

UTILITY MANAGEMENT

Heritha Vendra

WATER RESOURCES

Danielle Blacet-Hyden

WATER QUALITY

Alex Chakmak

ENGINEERING

Kevin Barnes

OPERATORS

Ken Payne

Nathan Boyle

Rosemary Smud

Sepideh Shirkhani

COUNCILS

MANUFACTURERS

& ASSOCIATES COUNCIL

Rich Hopkins

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

& DEVELOPMENT

Jenna Mariano

PHILANTHROPY COUNCIL

Gary Lynch

WATER UTILITY COUNCIL

Suzanne DeLorenzo


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Annual Report

2024 Achievements

Investing in Members, Strengthening the Water Profession

Thanks to CA-NV AWWA’s hard-working volunteers, leaders, and employees,

the section continues to deliver on our commitment to members to lead, educate,

and serve the water industry and our communities.

EVENTS EDUCATION MEMBERSHIP

1,696

Attendees at CA-NV

AWWA events.

Including 756

attendees

at WES Orange.

2,559

Participants in CA-NV

AWWA’s timely and relevant

training programs.

93 in-person programs

114 virtual programs

218 total educational programs

5,252

Active CA-NV AWWA

members!

Representing 3%

growth rate over

2023!

2024 Significant Accomplishments

• 2024 ACE Conference

10,700 attendees

CA-NV AWWA leaders, volunteers, and

staff poured countless hours of work into

supporting the national conference when

it arrived in Anaheim on June 10-13, 2024.

• We kicked off the operator and

education classes financial assistance

program funded by grants from the

Higher Road Training Partnership.

• We provided scholarships to 9 students

totaling $32,500, and provided 8

‘One AWWA Operator Scholarships’

of $1,000 each.

Certifications

Number of certificants within each discipline

• Advanced Water Treatment Operator 256

• Backflow Prevention Assembly 3,061

• Cross Connection Control Specialist 1,244

• Water distribution 78

• Water quality lab analyst 275

• Water treatment 8

Let's Give a Big Cheer for All Our Volunteers

• 135 members stepped up as volunteers in 2024

• 27 Governing Board members

• CA-NV AWWA has 72 committees and workgroups

with over 500 active committee members

CA-NV AWWA’s Outstanding Employees

13 full-time staff and part-time intern positions,

supported by 18 instructors, and 58 exam proctors.


APEI_AWWA-SOURCE_2024_0325_HalfPage_FINAL.pdf 1 3/27/24 12:30 PM

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WES Recap

Inaugural WES San Diego Training

Day Surpasses Attendance Goals

By Larry Lyford; Past Chair, CA-NV AWWA

I'm happy to report that the

inaugural Water Education

Seminar in San Diego exceeded

our expectations and goals. Known

as WES San Diego, the event was

held on January 15th at Cuyamaca

College’s Center for Water Studies.

By the end of the day, over 250

people attended the event. This

event would not have succeeded

without the hard work and support

of the volunteers led by Chris

Castaing from the San Diego County

Water Authority and his coworkers.

In addition, the Cuyamaca College

administration and staff, led by

Don Jones and Joe Young, were

instrumental in helping us host a

successful event.

They worked in coordination with

our Section, and volunteers and

manufacturer representatives who

had exhibits at this first of its kind

event in San Diego.

We hosted 6 tracks of training across

a wide variety of topics and practice

areas. The college helped expand

our educational opportunities by

developing one outdoor session

and a separate track for high

school students.

Competitions Trailer Debuts

Special thanks to our instructors

and a shout-out to Competition

Committee Chair Boyd Schultz with

Laguna Beach County Water District

for bringing down the competitions

trailer. The brand-new CA-NV AWWA

wrapped trailer features all of our

competition sponsors on it.

The Competitions Committee

also hosted the women's world

champion Hydrant Hysteria team to

put on several demonstration runs.

I received many positive comments

about the event, and I appreciate

the feedback on what we can

improve for next time. Attendees

said Cuyamaca College was a great

location, and they look forward to

hosting next year's event.

Thanks to all! We look forward

to planning next year’s WES San

Diego and seeing you at the Water

Conference of the West this April.

WES San Diego

was excellent. It had

informative speakers

and information you

could take back to

work and apply the

next day. I know these

events are a lot of work

to put together, so a

huge kudos to all of

those involved!

- Justin Brazil,

Sweetwater Authority

Photos by CA-NV AWWA staff


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Veteran Spotlight

Rob Craw is

Revolutionizing

Water Treatment

Through Leadership

and Innovation

For over three decades, member Rob Craw

has been a driving force in revolutionizing the

water treatment industry. Combining technical

expertise with a passion for improving water

quality, Rob is the founder of multiple successful

companies, including Covenant Technical

Solutions (CTS) and AqueoUS Vets.

Rob’s work spans both

public and private sectors,

tackling one of the most

vital and complex issues of

our time: delivering clean, safe

water in the face of mounting

environmental pressures.

Military Influence

Rob’s journey began in the United

States Army, where he served with

the 2nd Armored Division, known

as the Hell on Wheels, from 1986

to 1990, which included a two-year

deployment to Germany.

His military experience instilled

in him the values of discipline,

leadership, and service, which would

later define his approach to business.

Following his honorable discharge,

Rob pursued a bachelor’s degree

in environmental studies from

California State University East Bay,

laying the academic foundation for

his future career in water treatment.

Pioneering Solutions

Rob’s career in the water industry

began the day he walked into Charlie

Wells’ office at Westates Carbon

which was ultimately purchased

by USFilter. The company provided

equipment and service-based

solutions for water, soil, wastewater,

and potable water applications in

municipal and industrial markets.

A soon-to-be graduate, Rob was

looking for a 10-week paid internship

to satisfy a requirement for his

environmental studies degree.

Initially, Charlie hesitated to bring

Rob on board, fearing that he would

invest time in training someone who

might leave after just ten weeks.

However, Charlie saw potential in

Rob.

During those ten weeks, Rob did

everything, from groundwater

systems cleanup to working the shop

floor. After completing his internship,

Rob officially joined the Westates

team.

Little did he realize then that the

internship would mark the start of

a lifelong friendship and business

Photos courtesy of Rob Craw.


Veteran Spotlight

Photos courtesy of Rob Craw.

partnership and launch his career as

a trailblazer in the water industry.

At Westates, Rob distinguished

himself as a top-performing sales

leader. Over a decade, Rob grew the

company’s sales by more than 20%

annually and expanded the sales

team by 80%, showcasing his ability

to lead and grow organizations.

It was Rob's entrepreneurial

drive that would have the most

profound impact on the water

sector. In 2015, the groundwater

industry was undergoing significant

changes. Increasing environmental

regulations concerning identifying,

assessing, and treating pollutants

such as heavy metals, volatile organic

compounds (VOCs), and emerging

contaminants like PFAS and 1,2,3-

TCP led to growing demand for

sustainable solutions and services to

guarantee safe water supplies.

Rob recognized an emerging

market for which he was prepared

and well-suited. He called up his

mentor, Charlie, and together, they

founded AqueoUS Vets, a company

that has since become a national

leader in providing innovative water

treatment solutions. Under Rob’s

leadership, AqueoUS Vets grew

exponentially.

One of Rob’s most notable

achievements at AqueoUS Vets

was designing, manufacturing, and

installing the largest Ion Exchange

PFAS treatment plant in the United

States.

Founding Covenant

Technical Solutions

In April 2024, the EPA made a

significant move by introducing new

regulations to ensure safe drinking

water across the U.S. The regulations

set the maximum contaminant level

(MCL) for PFAS at just four parts per

trillion. To ensure compliance, initial

monitoring is expected to be in place

by 2027, with full enforcement of

PFAS MCL compliance in 2029.

In California alone, groundwater

accounts for approximately 85% of

residential water. With the demand

for water rising and regulations

getting stricter, water treatment

systems are needed more than ever.

The EPA’s deadline for compliance

has left many water utilities racing

against time. Many do not have

enough time—typically 3-5 years—to

design and build sites to address the

new limits.

Rob saw that the new regulations

and the time constraints they

imposed demanded an alternative,

more unified delivery model.

Rob founded Covenant Technical

Solutions (CTS) with partner Bill

Williams in 2024. The collaboration

between these two individuals'

areas of expertise is at the core

of CTS's efforts to assist utilities in

maximizing the efficiency of their

water treatment and construction

development strategies.

The company specializes in water

conveyance and groundwater

treatment projects and is a onestop,

integrated solutions provider.

It offers a comprehensive suite of

services ranging from conceptual

to integrated design to alternative

delivery methods, such as designbuild,

progressive design-build,

CMAR, and P3 solutions. Their unique

approach can speed up the project

schedule by up to 60% compared

to traditional design-bid-build

methods.

Supporting Veterans

In addition to his technical

accomplishments, Rob is strongly

committed to supporting the

veteran community. In 2021, he

founded American Veterans

Products & Services (AVP&S), a

consulting and procurement

management company.

AVP&S partners with water utilities

and municipalities to provide

expert consultation on emerging

contaminants while maintaining

Disabled Veteran Business

Enterprise (DVBE) compliance. Rob’s

leadership has helped AVP&S grow

rapidly, serving prominent clients

such as California Water Service

Company and East Bay Municipal

Utility District.

A Legacy of Leadership

Rob’s success is not solely defined

by his technical skills but by his

leadership style. Rob is a firm believer

in the transformative power of

mentorship. He credits individuals

like Charlie for not only teaching

him how to learn but also how to

impart that knowledge to others.

Mentorship has been a critical factor

in shaping his career, and now he

strives to pay it forward by guiding

those who work under him.

Rob sees it as his responsibility

to guide the next generation—

teaching, preparing, and passing

the torch—not just to preserve

the institution and its intellectual

capital but also to empower the new

individuals who will step in to carry

the business forward.

Through his work at CTS, AVP&S,

and beyond, Rob ensures that

communities across the country

have access to safe, clean, and

sustainable water—a legacy that will

endure for generations.


MWD Lab

MWD Names Water

Quality Lab After

Distinguished Member

Dr. Michael McGuire

(l-r) MWD Director Karl Seckel, MWDOC; MWD Director Anthony Fellows, Upper San

Gabriel MWD; State Water Board Chairman Joaquin Esquivel; MWD Chairman

Adán Ortega; Dr. Michael McGuire; MWD Juan Garza, Central Basin MWD.

By MWD Staff

On October 8th, the Metropolitan

Water District of Southern California’s

Board of Directors approved naming

Metropolitan’s Water Quality Laboratory in honor

of former Water Quality Manager and Director of

Water Quality, Dr. Michael J. McGuire.

The dedication ceremony took place on February

20th at the Metropolitan Water Quality Laboratory

in La Verne.

Dr. McGuire is a long-time AWWA member and

while at Metropolitan, recognized the crucial

role of research in meeting new regulatory

demands and advancing water quality science.

Under his leadership, the research conducted by

Metropolitan’s Water Quality Division significantly

influenced the development of emerging water

quality regulations.

This led to Metropolitan gaining national and

international recognition as a leader in water

quality. Dr. McGuire encouraged staff to actively

participate in scientific forums and serve on

professional water industry committees.

The naming of the laboratory is in recognition of

his legacy of service to Metropolitan, commitment

to advancing water quality initiatives, and public

service achievements of the highest distinction.

We see the bigger picture.

We see more in water than the science. For 90 years, we’ve

been inspired to safeguard the quality of life for our families and

communities, while protecting our fragile ecosystems.

Serving our clients throughout

California and Nevada

800.523.5826 / carollo.com

Photo by Yvette Martinez, MWD .


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Back to Basics

SCADA Control Systems Demystified for Users

By Luke Stephenson

The world of water and

wastewater management relies

heavily on automation, and at

the heart of this automation lies

the Supervisory Control and Data

Acquisition system, also known

as SCADA. In this article I’ll break

down the basics of SCADA, drawing

from insights shared during

my CA-NV AWWA conference

presentation "SCADA Basics for

Users."

When dealing with SCADA systems,

a lot is on the line. These systems

aren't just about controlling

equipment; they act as guardians

of public safety and stewards of

valuable resources.

SCADA provides stewardship:

modern systems protect the

public by minimizing human error,

ensuring reliable water services,

preventing spills, and avoiding

contamination events.

traditionally SCADA may have

just meant screens and data, it

now encompasses everything

from networking hardware to

programmable logic controllers

(PLCs).

SCADA typically consists of seven

components:

1. Field instrumentation: Sensors

and actuators that link the

control system to the physical

process. Communication occurs

over protocols such as serial,

ethernet, 4-20mA, or other

system.

2. PLCs: Industrial computing

devices that execute the logic to

orchestrate processes.

3. Human-Machine Interfaces

(HMIs): Screens and touch-panels

located near machinery for

operators to monitor and control

processes.

the system, usually in an office or

control room environment.

System Segmentation

Segmenting SCADA networks

into functional zones is crucial

for enhancing cybersecurity

and the performance of water

or wastewater systems. This

structured approach reduces

the attack surface, improves

data flow control, and optimizes

system performance by organizing

the system into distinct layers,

following the Perdue Enterprise

Reference Architecture:

• Level 0: The physical process,

such as water treatment and

pumping.

• Level 1: Intelligent devices,

including PLCs, which automate

control by executing logic based

on sensor inputs.

All photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.

SCADA ensures performance:

a robust system is full of digital

transformation tools which unlock

significant value when paired

with knowledgeable, seasoned

operators.

SCADA delivers a payback: a wellmaintained

control system is

as valuable an asset as the staff

operating it and can reduce the

cost of treating and delivering

water.

What is SCADA?

SCADA is often used as

synonymous for an industrial

control system, when in reality

they are a subsystem orchestrating

data acquisition and the display

of graphical interfaces. While

4. Telemetry and Communications

Infrastructure: The fabric that

ties all the components of the

control system together. Made

up of switches, firewalls, point to

point radios, fiber optics, cables,

or other networking system.

5. Servers and Datastores:

Hardware for hosting virtual

machines, databases, and

software applications.

6. Virtual Machines: Computing

systems that share physical

hardware and each exist

separately to execute specific

functions.

7. SCADA Clients: Interfaces such as

workstations, thin clients, tablets,

or laptops that are used to control



All photos courtesy of their respective companies or organizations.

• Level 2: SCADA systems providing

real-time monitoring and control,

visualizing data from PLCs, and

allowing operator interaction.

• Level 3: Data historians and

reporting tools, which archive

operational data for trend

analysis, regulatory compliance,

and performance reporting.

• Level 4: Business logistics

systems, integrating SCADA

data with enterprise resource

planning (ERP) and business

management tools.

In water and wastewater SCADA

systems, key elements include

telemetry systems for remote

data collection, alarming and

notification systems for real-time

alerts, automated regulatory

reporting features, and redundancy

to ensure system continuity in case

of failures.

This segmentation enhances

cybersecurity by isolating critical

components and provides efficient,

secure, and reliable operations for

critical infrastructure, ensuring

compliance with industry

standards and improving overall

system resilience.

Virtualization in SCADA

Systems

Virtualization has become a pivotal

technology in modern systems,

enabling organizations to manage

control systems more efficiently.

By creating virtual instances of

physical hardware, multiple virtual

machines (VMs) can operate on a

single physical server, leading to

enhanced efficiency, scalability, and

cost-effectiveness.

Traditionally, SCADA systems relied

on dedicated physical hardware,

which posed challenges such as

limited capacity, high maintenance

costs, and complex redundancy

setups.

Virtualization addresses these

issues by decoupling SCADA

software from the hardware,

allowing for dynamic resource

allocation and better infrastructure

utilization.

The hey benefits of virtualization

include:

• Efficiency: virtual machines

(VMs) share resources on a single

server, reducing hardware costs

and improving energy efficiency.

• Scalability: New VMs can be

quickly deployed to meet

growing demands without

needing additional physical

hardware.

• Maintenance: Virtual

environments simplify updates

and backups, minimizing

downtime.

• Disaster Recovery: VMs can be

easily replicated and restored,

enhancing recovery processes.

• Security: Virtualization adds

security by making it feasible

to isolate system functions to

dedicated VMs and by providing

features like access control and

encryption.

Virtualization streamlines SCADA

system operations, offering cost

savings, improved flexibility, and

stronger disaster recovery while

fostering collaboration between IT

and operations teams.

Developing a System

To develop an effective SCADA

system, organizations optimize

long-term value by following a

structured process:

1. Find the right team: Seek out

a Qualified Integration Partner

and/or ensure your in-house

team is capable and committed.

2. Define system objectives: What

should your control system

achieve?

3. Create a SCADA master plan

or roadmap: This plan provides

guidance and clarity for the

system's development in a

phased and multi-stepped

approach executed over multiple

years.



4. Develop written standards:

These ensure consistency and

reliability during system design

and implementation.

5. Address networking

infrastructure and cybersecurity:

Build a system that can adapt to

future needs.

6. Create reusable programming

standards: Develop standard

objects to streamline future

development.

7. Prioritize equipment upgrades:

Focus on failing or obsolete

equipment and capital project

improvements.

8. Incorporate digital

transformation tools: Integrate

advanced tools like CMMS

connections, AI, and digital twins

for enhanced functionality.

Making the Most of

a SCADA System

Building a SCADA system is one

thing; effectively using it is another.

Operators must be familiar with

PLC logic, troubleshooting, screen

navigation, alarms, trends, and

histories. Proper training and

familiarity with these tools can

prevent costly errors and improve

efficiency.

Maintenance is vital to ensuring

the longevity and reliability of a

system. Establishing a proactive

maintenance strategy, addressing

physical conditions, and

performing regular inspections are

essential practices.

Change management is also

crucial, as having a transparent

process to govern updates and

modifications ensures a system’s

integrity over its lifetime. One of

the main reasons SCADA systems

don't meet their expected lifespan

or fall into disrepair is that too

many people have access to freely

modify or change the system at

will. What that does is create more

bugs, discrepancies, and a lack

of documentation for those who

follow. Proper software, system

access, and change management

are critical in driving long-term

system value.

SCADA systems are powerful tools

that require careful planning,

development, and maintenance.

By taking cybersecurity seriously,

embracing virtualization,

and following a structured

development and maintenance

process, organizations can harness

the full potential of SCADA. These

systems will then ensure safe,

reliable, and efficient operations

at water and wastewater facilities.

This frees staff to focus on other

priorities and allows organizations

to effectively deal with the workforce

limitations that are common in the

water sector.

About the author: Luke

Stephenson, PE, PMP,

MBA, is the President of

Enterprise Automation,

a Tetra Tech Company

based in Irvine, California.


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Education Update

Get to Know the All-new

H2O Know

Take your training anywhere!

The H2O Know on demand training

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designed to meet the unique needs of

the water industry. It is a comprehensive

training and record-keeping program

that delivers affordable, detailed content

that allows you to earn, look-up, and

print your contact hour certificates

anytime, anywhere!

All water and wastewater continuing education classes

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SAFETY recertification requirements for all grade levels.

With expert-led sessions and practical insights, these ondemand

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• Build your skills

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2025 Water Conference of the West


More Networking, More Sessions,

More of What You Love at One Conference

By Gordon Williams;

CA-NV AWWA Chair Elect

The Water Conference of

the West (WCW) is the

newly reimagined, premier

annual event for drinking water

professionals across California and

Nevada. Replacing the Annual Fall

Conference and Spring Conference,

WCW combines the best of these

two flagship events into one

impactful gathering.

WCW25 marks an exciting transition

year as we launch a new conference

to bring together a diverse group

of water professionals: operators,

engineers, regulators, researchers,

utility managers, manufacturers,

students, and emerging

professionals.

WCW aims to foster collaboration,

knowledge-sharing, and innovation

in the water sector.

Q: Why did CA-NV AWWA decide to

transition from two conferences a

year to one?

A: The move to a single, unified

conference was driven by our

commitment to creating a highervalue

experience for our members

and attendees. By focusing our

efforts on one major event, we

can deliver better content, richer

networking opportunities, and more

impactful technical programs.

With a single, well-resourced event,

we can better serve the needs of

the California and Nevada water

community.

Q: What would you say to those

who are hesitant about the shift to

one conference?

A: I truly believe this is a gain, not a

loss. Consolidating into the Water

Conference of the West means we’re

not dividing resources between two

events. Instead, we’re channeling

everything into one exceptional

conference.

We’re already seeing a strong

response with even more abstracts

submitted and a higher number

of participants already registered

for WCW25. We anticipate the

conference attendance to grow

rapidly over the next few years.

Greater attendance means more

perspectives, stronger networking,

and better opportunities for

everyone involved.

Q: What’s the main difference

between WCW25 and past

conferences?

A: WCW combines all the

competitions that we know and love

from the Spring Conference with the

awards, leadership development,

and Section business that occurred

during the Fall Conference.

Gone are the days of a quieter

conference Thursday. At WCW25,

Thursday will be an action-packed

day of cohesively themed technical

sessions paired up with the fun-forall

Top Ops competition lunch.

Q: If WCW25 is a transition

conference, what is coming with

WCW26?

A: With WCW26, we are planning

to amp up Monday even further, in

addition to the themed workshops,

we are adding Monday technical

tours and either a golf tournament

and/or 5K race. It’s a chance to kick

off the conference with a lot of

energy and provide opportunities

for attendees to connect early.

These activities aren’t just about

networking—they’re about creating

a sense of camaraderie and

April 7-10

Disneyland Hotel &

Convention Center,

Anaheim

Conference info

and registration at

www.ca-nv-awwa.org

setting the stage for meaningful

conversations throughout the event.

Q: How does the three-region

rotation benefit WCW and its

attendees?

A: The three-region rotation—

Anaheim, San Diego, and

Sacramento—was carefully chosen

to balance accessibility, consistency,

and growth. By rotating locations,

we make it easier for professionals

from different parts of California and

Nevada to attend while maintaining

familiarity with high-quality venues.

This approach also strengthens

our ability to negotiate long-term

venue contracts, keeping costs

manageable and ensuring a

seamless planning process.

Q: If someone has never attended

a water conference before, why

should WCW be their first?

A: WCW is the perfect first

conference because it’s designed

with both first-time and seasoned

attendees in mind. We’ve added

new ways for first-timers to connect,

including informal meet-and-greets

and opportunities to interact with

industry leaders.

The scale and energy of this single,

unified event make it an ideal

introduction to the water industry

Photo courtesy of Gordon Williams.



and a place to see the latest

innovations, meet peers, and find

your place within the incredible

AWWA community.

Q: What role do younger

professionals play in shaping the

future of WCW?

A: Younger professionals are

absolutely essential to WCW’s future.

This conference is an opportunity

to not only learn from experienced

professionals but also share fresh

ideas and new perspectives. We’re

making a deliberate effort to

welcome and integrate younger

voices, whether through mentorship

opportunities, volunteer roles, or

targeted sessions.

Q: What’s one unexpected benefit

of having a single mega-conference

instead of two smaller ones?

A: One unexpected benefit is the

way it fosters a stronger sense

of community. When you bring

everyone together in one place, the

connections feel deeper and more

meaningful.

Q: Any final thoughts for our

readers?

A: The success of WCW depends on

all of us. Whether you’re a first-time

attendee, a seasoned professional,

or an exhibitor, there’s something

for everyone at this conference. Let’s

make WCW25 a launchpad for an

even brighter future.

I can’t wait to see what we

accomplish together!

Monday – April 7, 2025

9:00am - 2:00pm

9:00am - 2:00pm

9:00am** - 4:00p

1:00pm - 4:00pm

2:30pm - 4:00pm

4:00pm - 5:30pm

5:30pm - 7:00pm

Governing Board

Meeting

Competitions Set-Up

Pre-Conference

Workshop

Registration Hours

Leadership Training

Division &

Council Meetings

Tuesday – April 8, 2025

7:00am - 4:00pm

8:00am - 10:00am

8:00am - 11:00am

Membership Welcome

Reception

Registration Hours

Opening General Session

Technical Tour

9:00am** - 1:30pm Competitions -

Hydrant Hysteria

9:00am** - 3:00pm “Digs N Rigs” -

Vehicle Show

10:00am - 10:30am

10:00am - 10:30am

10:30am - 11:30am

11:35am - 12:55pm

1:00pm - 2:00pm

1:30pm** - 3:00pm

2:00pm - 2:30pm

2:30pm - 4:00pm

4:05pm - 7:00pm

4:30pm - 5:00pm

7:00pm - 8:00pm

First Time

Attendee Orientation

Networking Break

Technical Sessions &

Committee Meetings

Awards Lunch


Committee Meetings

Competitions – Hot Flare

Networking Break &

Collaboration Station


Committee Meetings

Exhibit Hall - Grand

Opening & Reception

Taste Test &

People's Choice

Chair’s Reception

Wednesday – April 9, 2025

7:00am - 4:00pm

7:00am - 8:30am

8:00am - 8:30am

8:00am - 11:00am

Registration Hours

Breakfast with Exhibitors

Water All-Star Talk

Technical Tour

8:35am - 9:35am

9:00am** - 3:00pm


Committee Meetings

Competitions – Pipe

Tapping & Meters

9:00am** - 3:00pm “Digs N Rigs” -

Vehicle Show

9:35am - 10:00am

10:00am - 11:30am

11:35am - 12:35pm

Networking Break in

Exhibit Hall


Committee Meetings

Exhibit Hall Lunch

12:35pm - 1:00pm Mentor Meetup –

Exhibit Hall

1:00pm - 2:00pm

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Scavenger Hunt

in Exhibit Hall


Committee Meetings

3:00pm - 5:00pm Competitions –

Tear Down

3:30pm - 3:45pm

3:45pm - 4:45pm

4:50pm - 5:25pm

5:30pm - 8:30pm

Networking Break &



Committee Meetings

Water All-Star Talk

Thursday – April 10, 2025

7:00am - 1:00pm

8:00am - 8:35am

8:00am** - 11:00am

8:35am - 9:35am

9:00am - 4:00pm

9:35am - 10:00am

10:00am - 11:30am

11:35am - 12:55pm

1:00pm - 2:30pm

2:30pm - 3:00pm

3:00pm - 4:30pm

4:35pm - 5:05pm

Young Professional Event

Registration Hours

Water All-Star Talk

Top Op’s

Preliminary Rounds


Committee Meetings

Conference Workshop Global

Strategies, Local Action

Networking Break &



Committee Meetings

Top Op’s Finals at Lunch

Technical Sessions

Networking Break &


Technical Sessions

Water All-Star Talk

Complete Water Engineering

and Consulting Services

CA-NV AWWA SOURCE Magazine_Ad_2021-2.indd 1

www.ca-nv-awwa.org 3/2/2021 | WINTER 3:51:26 PM 2025 25


Global

Strategies,

Local Action

A Danish-Californian

Dialogue on Water

Efficiency and Loss

Prevention

By Charlotte Ely

Join us for a Danish-California Dialogue as

part of the Water Conference of the West, the

dialogue will take place on Thursday, April 10th

at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

Focused on topics relevant to the recently

adopted Making Conservation a Way of Life

regulation, the event will feature thought leaders

on water loss, residential indoor and outdoor

water use, and commercial, industrial, and

institutional (CII) water use efficiency.

The event is latest outcome from a transatlantic

partnership between California and Denmark,

first formalized through a Memorandum of

Understanding in 2017.

Since then, water officials from both countries

have been cooperating on water resource

management, working together to identify

new ways to increase efficiencies and enhance

performance in the water and wastewater sector.

Your choice: register only for this workshop or

the entire Water Conference of the West which

includes the workshop at www.CA-NV-AWWA-.

org.

About the author: Charlotte Ely is the Climate

and Strategy Advisor for the Office of Research

Planning and Performance at the California

State Water Resources Control Board.

Workshop co-organized by: California Department of

Water Resources; California Water Efficiency Partnership;

California State Water Resources Control Board ;

Danish Water Technology Alliance; and CA-NV AWWA

About the California-Denmark

Water Partnership

According to the 2017 memorandum of

understanding, the objective is to promote a

mutually beneficial relationship in the field of water

technology, water management, and regulation,

with a view to sharing knowledge, experiences,

data, and best practices.

The priorities for cooperation include:

• Promoting knowledge and solutions of joint

interest related to sustainable groundwater

management - including groundwater mapping,

water data collection and management, and

identifying effective strategies and actions for

groundwater sustainability.

• Identifying challenges and finding effective

solutions associated with water conservation,

water use efficiency, reduction of water loss,

and energy use in the distribution system.

• Sharing of best practices, regulatory

approaches, research, and potential solutions

for wastewater treatment - particularly focused

on reducing the carbon footprint, increasing

energy efficiency, promoting resource recovery.

• Sharing ideas and knowledge on how

to stimulate innovation and facilitate

entrepreneurship within our water sectors.

Photos by Consulate General Of Denmark


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Regulatory Update

Back to the Future

Time to Refocus the Safe

Drinking Water Act?

By Timothy Worley and Suzanne DeLorenzo

As 2024 came to an end, our inboxes and social media feeds

were full of reflections on the 50th anniversary of the Safe

Drinking Water Act. Like Doc Brown, some people were using

the milestone to think about the future ... of safe drinking

water. They want to make that future a good one, and that

means refocusing on some basics.

Everyone agrees that the Safe

Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has

contributed to terrific improvements

in public health through the

regulation of common contaminants

to remove them from tap water. The

December 2024 issue of the AWWA

Connections newsletter noted the

great progress made in water safety.

“In 1900, U.S. residents had a

1-in-20 chance of dying from a

gastrointestinal infection before the

age of 70, but by 1940 the chance

was one in 3,333. By 1990, it was down

to one in 2 million, a monumental

achievement in less than a century.

Since then, it has only gotten better,

and America’s water is the safest in

the world, due in part to the SDWA.”

Even with these great strides – or

perhaps because of them – the same

article noted that discussion swirls

around the SDWA.

“Debate around the SDWA

continues and includes several

outstanding questions:

• Are existing standards adequate to

protect public health?

• Are compliance rates high enough?

• What new standards for individual

contaminants, groups of

contaminants, or entire classes are

necessary?

• What level of risk is tolerable and at

what cost?

• How safe is safe?”

These are not simple questions.

AWWA members should take

pride in their association and the

California-Nevada Section for their

work through the Water Utility

Councils, keeping a strong focus

on the key issues shaping the

present and future of safe drinking

water. Those

factors include

following the

best science and

data available,

for the best risk

assessments,

and applying

reliable economic

analyses to

balance the costs

against the public

health risk.

As we look to the next decades,

some influential observers are

calling for shifting the approach

away from the “contaminant du

jour,” and refocusing attention and

funding on gaps that have been

neglected for too long. The biggest

challenges we face today come from

infrastructure that is reaching the

end of its useful life and exposing

consumers to unaddressed risks,

as well as the inequity of rural

and low-income consumers with

inferior water quality. Overall, these

issues may be far more important

than an extra part per trillion of the

latest constituent that can now be

detected.

“I believe the health risks of

regressing [on basic infrastructure]

are higher than the risk of

unregulated contaminants,” Corona

Environmental Consulting president

Chad Seidel told Circle of Blue.

“You can’t talk about the future

of safe drinking water without

talking about how to pay for it,”

mentioned Rob Greer, a professor of

public administration at Texas A&M

University, in the Circle of Blue article.

In other words, “Back to the future!”

2024 Utility Council Review

Policy positions taken by CA-NV

AWWA last year mostly align with

the views cited above, with a strong

focus on the use of good data, good

science, and good economic analysis.

In a letter to the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, for example, the

Section explained why the extreme

difficulty of obtaining good quality

sampling data made microplastics

Photo by the California Department of Water Resources


Regulatory Update

“It means your

future hasn’t

been written

yet. No one’s

has! Your future

is whatever you

make it, so make

it a good one!”

– Emmett “Doc” Brown,

Back to the Future, Part 3

Photo by the California Department of Water Resources

a poor choice for inclusion in

the Unregulated Contaminant

Monitoring Rule list.

Similarly, the Section worked

hard to amend the California

Legislature's bill SB 1147, to account

for the challenge of obtaining

consistent, reliable data suitable

for regulating microplastics as a

drinking water contaminant.

There is uncertainty about the

reliability of science underpinning

the hexavalent chromium

regulation in California. The Section

submitted letters to the Office

of Environmental Health Hazard

Assessment (OEHHA) and to the

State Water Resources Control

Board urging both agencies to

reach decisions after understanding

a substantial body of new studies

about the risk to human health.

To make sure that every person can

benefit from safe, reliable water, the

Section supported California Senator

Alex Padilla’s bill to permanently

establish a Low-Income Household

Water Assistance Program.

Then there are more practical

issues about how water utilities

operate, and the funds they must

collect from ratepayers to maintain

their operations. Discussions with

California’s operator certification

program staff continued, with

progress but also lingering concerns.

The Section joined water associations

across the U.S. in urging Congress

to protect water utilities from costly

but unjustified litigation as passive

receivers of PFAS contaminants that

are classified as hazardous materials

under the Superfund law.

While Nevada’s legislature enjoyed

an interim year between sessions,

the Section actively advocated

in California for the approval of

a water and climate resilience

bond with substantial funding

designated for drinking water

contaminant treatment. That

bond measure approved by voters

as Proposition 4, allocates $610

million specifically for grants and

loans to improve the quality and

affordability of drinking water.

This amount is part of the broader

$3.8 billion authorized for water

management initiatives, including

drought, flood, and water

resilience programs.

As you read this, the Water Utility

Council is fully engaged with

the regulations, legislative bills,

and other policy issues that will

dominate its attention in 2025. If you

have concerns or ideas to improve

things for your utility, we invite you

to contact us.

About the Authors

Timothy Worley, PhD is Managing

Director of Ortega Strategies Group,

a public affairs consulting firm in

Fullerton, CA. He preceded Sue

Mosburg as executive director of

CA-NV AWWA. He can be reached at

(714) 784-0001.

Suzanne DeLorenzo, PhD is Director

of Water Quality at San Jose Water

Company in San Jose, CA. She is

chair of the CA-NV AWWA Water

Utility Council and serves on the

Association’s Water Utility Council.


Scholarship

2025 Scholarship

Applications Are Now Open

By Anne Parekh, Scholarship Committee Chair

Applications for the 2025

CA-NV AWWA Section

scholarships are now

available. If you are a student, or

know a student interested in a career

in a drinking water related field, we

are looking for them to apply. There

are scholarships for treatment and

distribution operators as well.

The Section offers up to six $2,500

scholarships for those pursuing

a two-year or four-year college

degree program. We’re also

offering two $5,000 scholarships

for those seeking graduate studies

at the master or doctorate levels.

Applications for these scholarships

are due March 15.

For those who want training as

a drinking water treatment or

distribution operator, the Section

has the One AWWA Operator

scholarships. We offer training

funding up to $1,000 each to offset

coursework and other expenses. You

can apply for these scholarships at

any time.

Our goal is to support education for

those planning a career as a drinking

water professional. Career options

vary and include water treatment

operators, distribution system

operators, chemists, lab technicians,

biologists, ecologists, environmental

and civil engineers, mechanical,

electrical and plumbing trades,

environmental scientists and public

administrators, as well as any role

that supports safe drinking water is

eligible.

Application forms, detailed

instructions and frequently asked

questions are on the CA-NV AWWA

Section website at ca-nv-awwa.org.

Scholarships are open to anyone

living in California or Nevada

with a demonstrated interest in a

professional drinking water career.

The Scholarship Committee will

evaluate each application carefully

and consider the application’s

quality and completeness, the

applicant’s qualifications and

especially the candidate’s interest

and plans for a career in drinking

water. Awards will be announced by

June 1, 2025.

If you have questions,

please contact Anne

Parekh, Scholarship

Committee chair, at

parekhanne@gmail.com.

Photos by Adobe Stock.com.


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Award Winners

The 2024 Elliott Award Recipients

The George A. Elliott Memorial Award is the highest CA-NV Section award.

It honors the man who helped establish the section in 1920, and who was

our first section Chair from 1920-1922.

Christine Boyle

Past Chairs Committee, CA-NV AWWA

Partner, Burnt Island Ventures

Christine Boyle has served a long and distinguished

“career” as a volunteer for CA-NV AWWA. She served as a

member of the Governing Board from 2014-present and

was an excellent Chair in 2022-2023. Her focus on high

level business planning provided value to the section and

was a unique aspect of her term.

She applied her expertise to a broad swath of section

interests and served on numerous committees, including

Nominating; Finance; Water Loss Control; Scholarship;

Water for People; Ad Hoc Section Technology; Operators;

Advanced Water Treatment; Financial Management;

Leadership Development; Communications and Customer Relations; Information Management; and Management

Development and Leadership.

Christine is a partner at Burnt Island Ventures where she works with innovators to bring the next generation of

water technologies to market. She was the CEO and founder of Valor Water Analytics, which sold to Xylem in 2018.

Christine has shown dedication to the section, service, and success that makes her extremely worthy

of the George A. Elliott Memorial Award.

Colter Anderson

Conference Co-Chair

Chief Revenue Officer, Operational Technical Services

Colter has been active in CA-NV AWWA for 17 years and

has shown consistent dedication to the section. He

became a member of the Young Professionals (YPs)

Committee in 2009 soon after joining the section and

continues to support YPs as a seasoned professional. As

a member of our Top Ops Challenge Committee, he has

provided questions for the competition, and you’ve likely

seen him up there serving as a judge.

He has served several years on the Operators Committee

and is well known for sharing war stories from the field

about holding systems together during emergencies. It takes extreme dedication to keep the water flowing, and

from an early age, Colter has proven to be an outstanding water professional and leader.

He’s served on many of the section’s committees, including: Water Distribution; Awards Committee; Advanced

Water Treatment Committee; Leadership Development; and in recent years he has served multiple terms as

conference co-chair.

For his years of dedication and bold leadership provided to the CA-NV Section, Colter Anderson is deserving

of the George A. Elliott Memorial Award.

Photos by CA-NV AWWA.


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Fundraising

CA-NV AWWA Leads the Nation

in Water For People Fundraising

By Cathy Swanson & Gary Lynch

With great gratitude we are

excited to announce, the

CA-NV AWWA Water For

People Committee raised

$100,062 for fiscal year 2024

out of a total of $728,577

raised nationally – more than

any other AWWA section in

the country.

Thank you to all of our participants

for organizing, planning, and

contributing. In addition to the

health and economic benefits

of investing in clean water, your

donations provide a seven-fold

return to Water For People Global.

Additionally, we know we are

donating to a worthy organization.

Water For People has reached over

5 million people with reliable water

and sanitation services while earning

Charity Navigator’s highest, 4-star

rating possible for 20 years now.

This distinction places our favorite

charity in the top 1% of all charities.

To learn more about Water For

People’s impact around the world,

follow this link: waterforpeople.org/

our-impact

The magic of the local Water For

People sections is that we build

community within our water

industry while also supporting

our water-brethren in developing

countries. Our events are centered

not just on fundraising, but also

networking and having fun.

Virtual Wine Event

on May 9th

5th Annual Water For People

Wine Education &

Tasting Event

Learn more, register

and order your wines

using the QR code

Los Angeles Chapter

For example, at the Social Splash

during ACE 2024, the local Los

Angeles chapter hosted an event at

Ballast Point Brewery in Downtown

Disney. The party was so well

attended and enjoyable, the staff

had to finally ask us to leave an hour

after the event was supposed to

have ended!

Thanks to sponsorships and ticket

sales, over $6,000 was raised at

this event.

We’re going to do it again in 2025

at the Water Conference of the

West at the Disneyland Hotel with

another reception and sponsorship

opportunities. Check conference

registration forms to participate.

Watch for our 2025 activities at our

LinkedIn page.

San Diego Chapter

The San Diego chapter holds their

annual Jazz on Tap festival each year.

This summer was no different, with

bands, food, and of course, beer at

the Quartyard. Not far from the train

station, folks from all over Southern

California participated.

The event raised over $38,000. For

more info on the San Diego chapter’s

activities follow them on Facebook at

San Diego Water For People.

Sacramento Chapter

The Sacramento chapter’s annual

softball tournament this year rallied

participants and fans to raise over

$7,000. You can find out more about

them on Facebook at Water For

People – Sacramento Committee.

With so much momentum going

into 2025, our California-Nevada

Water For People community is

stronger and happier thanks to your

contributions.

Let’s continue the journey together

at our next event!

Photos provided by the Cathy Swanson and Water For People.




SOURCE - Winter 2025

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