ACWA
NEWS
State Fairgoers See Green at Save Our Water Exhibit
ACWA’s • Member • Newsletter
Volume 41 | No. 7 July 19, 2013
Department of Water Resources staff member Ashley Glisan talks about water wise plants at the Save Our Water exhibit, located at “The Farm” at the California State Fair on July 12, 2013. The exhibit’s colorful displays give consumers practical advice on how to save water. Photos by Florence Low, DWR (left) and Marie Meade (right).
New Outreach Effort Launches to Remind Public to Save Water, Energy This Summer ACWA, working with its member agencies in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, the California Center for Sustainable Energy and electric utilities launched a statewide public outreach campaign this week to remind consumers about the need to use water and energy wisely this summer. The statewide campaign, launched at the request of the Governor’s Office – reminds Californians that water and energy use are linked and asks consumers to be especially conservation-minded this summer to help
keep the electric grid stable and reliable during heat waves when demand for both water and energy can be at its highest. ACWA has been coordinating with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and other entities to develop a plan, messaging and tools to assist water agencies and utilities in spreading the message this summer. A new website — www.savewaterandenergycalifornia.org — is expected to go live during the week of July 22. This website will contain Outreach Continued on page 4
AB 145 Approved by Senate Health Committee; Discussions on ACWA’s Concerns to Continue The Senate Health Committee approved ACWA-opposed legislation July 3 that would move the state’s drinking water program from the Department of Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board.
ers on concerns raised by ACWA and its coalition partners. He said he would bring the bill back to the committee if significant changes are made to the measure as a result of discussions over the legislative recess.
The vote on AB 145 (Perea) followed a pledge from Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina), the chair of the committee, to work with the Brown Administration, the bill’s author and stakehold-
“I have heard all the concerns, and I will be able to express those in the discussions. I will be supporting the bill with the understanding
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Executive Director’s Column on Statewide Water Action Plan
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House Passes Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
AB 145 Continued on page 3
Agenices Saving Money with Digital Consumer Confidence Reports
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Region 8 Tackles Southern California Groundwater
ACWA News is a publication of the Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814-3512 Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA. POSTMASTER: send address changes and subscription requests to ACWA News, 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3514 Phone: 916.441.4545 Fax: 916.561.7124 Website: acwa.com Executive Director Timothy Quinn Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs and Operations Jennifer Persike Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager Communications Specialist Pamela Martineau Communications Specialist Matt Williams Graphic Designer Katherine Causland Outreach & Social Media Specialist Ellen Martin Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Call ACWA for Permission to Reprint. USPS 334030 Print & Digital
Questions on Classified Ads? ACWA public agency members may post job descriptions, RFPs, items for sale and other miscellaneous classified ads in ACWA News and/ or online at acwa.com. More information is at acwa.com or contact Director of Communications Lisa Lien-Mager at lisalm@acwa.com or 916.441.4545. Connect with us:
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Vol. 41 No. 7
Executive Director’s Column
By Timothy Quinn
It’s Time for the Water Community to Unite Around a Statewide Water Action Plan for California With state and federal agencies working toward the release of a public draft of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, much attention is focused on the Delta and the need for long-term solutions. We all know a Delta solution is critical to the state’s water future, but it is just one component of a broader set of actions needed to address overall water supply reliability and ecosystem health in California. There is widespread agreement that a statewide water action plan is required to ensure leadership and resources are focused on a suite of other priorities, including surface and groundwater storage, local resources development, water rights protection, climate change and other vital issues. To that end, ACWA and the Department of Water Resources have been convening a series of informal meetings to help define such a statewide framework. The goal is to produce a succinct plan that identifies statewide actions that can be broadly supported by the water community and can serve as a sustainable path forward for California. The effort began this spring when a contingent of ACWA members asked the association to get engaged and help build a larger statewide framework to integrate the BDCP process and other initiatives now under way. Participation has expanded since then, and a broad cross-section of water interests — including upstream water users as well as those who rely on Delta exports — is now at the table helping to craft the statewide action framework. The draft plan taking shape outlines actions such as expanding surface and groundwater storage capacity, increasing
water use efficiency, protecting water rights, promoting improved regional self-reliance and enhancing water quality. Once it is finalized, the plan will be transmitted to the Department of Water Resources, which has pledged resources and time to the process, including the active involvement of Director Mark Cowin. The process is one of many avenues through which DWR is seeking input from stakeholders, including conservation groups, on a statewide plan. I’ve been reporting on this effort in meetings with ACWA members up and down the state in recent weeks. As ACWA members know, the water community has come together many times to call for comprehensive solutions, including in 2005 with the landmark ACWA Blueprint. Our hope is to organize our community around a plan that works for the entire state and provide it to the Brown Administration. The timing is critical as the BDCP process moves toward release of the public draft this fall and the Legislature begins to focus on modifications to the 2014 water bond. It is up to the water community to provide context for the BDCP process as one component of a broader plan needed to secure our water future. As a statewide association of water agencies from every corner of the state, it’s key for ACWA to do what it does best: convene its members to find common ground and advance solutions that work for all of California.
FEderal News
House Passes Fiscal 2014 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill The House of Representatives on July 10 approved a fiscal year 2014 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill by a vote of 227-198. Of interest to ACWA members, the bill funds both the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. Overall, the $30.4 billion bill came in $2.9 billion below the enacted level for fiscal year 2013 and $4.1 billion less than the President’s request. The Army Corps of Engineers would be funded at $4.9 billion, a decrease of $104 million (-2%) below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and $50 million above the President’s budget request. The bill also would prohibit the Army Corps from revising regulations on the discharge of fill material, and make changes to the federal definition of water under the Clean Water Act. For the Bureau of Reclamation, the legislation contains $965 million — $104
million less than the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and $85 million less than the President’s request. The bill would provide $30 million for CALFED. Senate Appropriations passed its version of the bill on June 27. The Senate bill is $4.4 billion higher than the House bill and would provide $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation and $5.27 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers.
House Passes Farm Bill The House narrowly passed a scaleddown Farm Bill on July 11 by a vote of 216-208. The vote constitutes a stark reversal from last month, when a previous version of the Farm Bill failed to pass by a vote of 195 to 234. The revised bill eliminated the nutrition assistance program SNAP to appeal to conservative members. It’s the first time the Farm Bill has been passed without a nutrition assistance provision since 1973. The bill consolidates the number of conservation programs from 23 to 13, cutting $6.9 billion. It also eliminates all mandatory funding for USDA’s rural
renewable energy, energy efficiency and biofuel initiatives. Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Virginia) hailed the bill’s passage, calling it “a victory for farmers and conservatives who desired desperately needed reforms to these programs.” Many conservative groups, however, remained opposed to the bill due to its $195.6 billion 10-year price tag and the numerous subsidies that remain in it. Democrats, meanwhile, decried the bill as a triumph of politics over sound policy. “We were doing fine until we got to the floor and the leadership screwed this up,” said Rep. Colin Peterson (D-Minnesota), the ranking member on the Agriculture Committee. “But no, you’ve got to make this a partisan bill. Some people on that side have been trying to make this a partisan bill for four months and they have finally succeeded.” The bill’s future remains uncertain, as it must now be reconciled with the $995 billion Senate-passed Farm Bill, which has nutrition assistance as its centerpiece.
AB 145 Continued from page 1
I have the authority to bring it back and address the concerns.” The bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee. ACWA and other opponents, including the Health Officers Association of California and the California Municipal Utilities Association, said more must done to improve access to safe drinking water for disadvantaged communities, but that moving the entire drinking water program to the State Board would undermine the program’s public health focus, disrupt critical functions and force the program to compete with other critical priorities before the State Board. “We want to work with the Legislature and the Administration to solve
the problems that some disadvantaged communities face relative to safe drinking water,” ACWA Deputy Executive Director for Government Relations Cindy Tuck said. “AB 145 goes way beyond addressing those issues.” Tuck outlined two alternative approaches that would allow ACWA and others to remove their opposition. One would be to move management of the drinking water State Revolving Fund (SRF) only to the State Board, leaving the rest of the regulatory program and responsibility for emergency response at the Department of the Public Health. The second option would be to move the entire drinking water program to a new office of drinking water at the Cali-
fornia Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA). “That would elevate the program, but keep the focus on public health,” Tuck said. Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) urged committee members to listen to concerns raised by ACWA and others. “This is an issue I’ve lived for many decades. I am very familiar with these water districts,” Gerber said. “The State Water Board is overburdened as we speak. They’ve got enough to do. I believe this would be huge folly. It is incumbent on the Legislature to listen to these folks who deal with this daily. This is serious business.” ACWA will continue to engage on AB 145. July 19, 2013 • 3
State Relations
Agencies Saving Money with Digital Consumer Confidence Reports Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) provide information to consumers about their water quality and are mailed annually to each residence. However, in the digital age, many people prefer to receive information electronically. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Public Health gave the green light to utilities this year to deliver CCRs electronically. Several California water agencies took advantage of this option and were able to provide more detailed information to consumers and save money at the same time. Katie Ruark, public information officer for the Desert Water Agency, chose the electronic route in an effort to expand the amount and quality of information delivered to the consumer. “I had already budgeted for the printed version, so we took the savings and added a lot more information, photos and features than we would have, and are already planning how we can expand next year’s report to add videos and make it more interactive,” said Ruark. Dublin San Ramon Services District has received positive feedback since going digital. “We welcomed the opportunity
to be a little greener by publishing a paperless water quality report. Customers suggest this option every year, and now the regulations allow us to do it,” said Vicki Goldman, customer services supervisor. “We are also distributing the information to apartments, libraries and other public places to reach consumers who do not receive water bills.”
ACWA, along with a coalition of water associations including American Water Works Association and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, worked with the U.S. EPA on the development of the electronic distribution guidance.
Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) made the electronic switch this year, saving an estimated $20,000 in production and mailing costs, according to Matt Young, PCWA director of customer services. PCWA operates eight treated water systems, and as required by law, prepares an annual report for each. The reports, which summarize water quality testing programs for the previous year, are distributed each spring well before the mandated July 1 deadline. There are a variety of benefits to electronically disseminating the CCRs, as noted by Felix Riesenberg, assistant director of Public Works & Utilities for the City of Fairfield. “Not only are we saving about $15,000 in production, printing and mailing, we are actively diverting garbage from the landfill,” he said, “and we haven’t received the usual complaints about this waste.”
2012 Water Quality Report
Outreach Continued from page 1
messaging tools specific to the “Save Water & Energy This Summer” campaign. ACWA also has posted the tools on its website, including a one-page description of the program, sample blog, fact sheets, sample newsletter and a sample bill stuffer that can be used to communicate with customers. The tools on the site may be focused locally by replacing some of the facts with local statistics or messages. The information on the new site stresses such facts as: consumers can save 25 gallons of water by irrigating only in the early morning or late evening, and letting the faucet run for five minutes 4 • ACWA NEWS
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uses as much energy as leaving a 60-watt light bulb on for 14 hours. ACWA members are encouraged to use the “Save Water & Energy This Summer” graphic on their websites and link to the new site when it goes live later this month. The Save Our Water website, saveourh2o.org, will continue to serve as the primary portal for information on how consumers can save water. Consumers may be directed to the Energy Upgrade California website, www.energyupgradeca.org/overview for specific energy-saving information.
For more information, please contact ACWA’s Jennifer Persike at jenniferp@ acwa.com or 916-441-4545.
State relations
Communications Toolkit Available for Expected Release of Draft Chromium-6 MCL ACWA has prepared a communications toolkit for member agencies to use in educating the public about the draft drinking water standard for chromium-6 that is expected to be released by the California Department of Public Health later this month. The toolkit, includes a two-page FAQ sheet as well as talking points for water agencies to use in public outreach about the new draft maximum contaminant level, or MCL, for chromium-6. It will be the nation’s first drinking water standard for chromium-6. The background materials include information about the different types of chromium and its uses, as well as the process CDPH uses in setting an MCL. The FAQ sheet and talking points are geared for the layperson. ACWA also has updated its website with more extensive background information on chromium-6. ACWA members may use the more extensive material should some members of the public want more in-depth information. Visit acwa.com to access the material.
CDPH is expected to release a draft MCL for chromium-6 for a 45-day comment period during which members of the public may submit written feedback on the proposal. The department will take the public feedback and respond to each comment. It is possible the proposed MCL could change and then be recirculated for more public comment before a final MCL is set. ACWA will update members when the draft MCL is released and redistribute the toolkit with the actual MCL number in place. For questions about the content of the material, contact Danielle Blacet at danielleb@acwa.com or (916) 441-4545.
Chromium-6
Hearing Looks at Future Without San Onofre California lawmakers and officials from the state’s big utility companies already are talking about how to fill the void left by the planned closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Steve Berberich, president and CEO of the California Independent System Operator, told the State Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communication on July 10 that the state has “ample” power supply statewide under normal conditions. But if an extreme heat wave or other unforeseen outage occurs, there would be only 4.5% in operating reserves for service areas in southern Orange County and San Diego County — close to the 3% trigger point that prompts rolling blackouts.
Berberich was joined by a panel of experts who testified during the Senate committee’s informational hearing at the state Capitol. Two more informational hearings will be held on SONGS, one Aug. 13 and another on Sept. 24 in Los Angeles.
Commemorative Edition of California’s Water Now Available ACWA is proud to offer for purchase a Commemorative Gold Edition featuring all 25 segments of the California’s Water series for public television, produced and hosted by the late Huell Howser. ACWA and its members helped to underwrite the series, which took viewers on an educational journey through California water. Through the course of the series, Howser visited water agencies throughout the state and examined water from every angle – canals, recycling plants, reservoirs and cutting edge treatment facilities. When Howser passed away in January 2013, the state lost a great water story teller, but his legacy lives on in his programs. ACWA members are encouraged to order this Commemorative Gold Edition for use in public tours, office lobbies and other venues, or distribute copies to schools, public libraries and municipalities to extend the reach. The series costs $30 including shipping. Order forms are available online at www.acwa.com/catalog/74.
Changes already have been made to get by without SONGS. Generators in Huntington Beach that were previously retired were put back online last year and were recently converted into “synchronous condensers” to help stabilize the region’s power grid. Capacitors also have been added to substations. But those measures aren’t expected to be long-term solutions. See related story on page 1 about California’s new Save Water, Save Energy campaign. July 19, 2013 • 5
ACWA Region News
(Left) Ken Manning, executive officer, San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. (Center) Attendees at the Region 8 Groundwater Program. (Right) Kevin Wattier, general manager, City of Long Beach Water Department; Bill Kruse, attorney, Central Basin Water Association; Robb Whitaker, general manager, WRD of Southern California; and Rob Katherman, WRD of Southern California.
ACWA Region 8 Event Tackles Southern California Groundwater ACWA Region 8 explored the latest trends and pressing issues in groundwater management during a June 13 program in Carson. Region 8 Chair Gail Pringle and Mayor Jim Dear welcomed the more than 80 people attending the all-day event at the City of Carson Community Center. The program was called “What Lies Beneath? A Look at Groundwater in Southern California.” The day’s first session looked at the past, present and future of groundwater basin management. The panelists were Kirby Brill, general manager, Mojave Water Agency; Mario Garcia, manager, engineering and operations, Three Valleys Municipal Water District; and Tony Zampiello, executive officer, Main San Gabriel Basin and Raymond Basin Watermaster. The panel’s moderator was Dan Arrighi, water resources manager for San Gabriel Valley Water Company, who commented that Southern California weathered the 2007-’10 droughts and pumping restriction. He said although the cost of water provided by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California increased by about 55%, Southern California was able to sustain itself with modest drought conservation measures due in part to the availability of local groundwater supplies. The panelists described how ground-
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water management strategies are changing and how it’s affecting their planning and operations inside and outside Metropolitan’s service area. There has been a major shift toward enhanced stormwater capture, indirect reuse and a willingness to pay premium rates for imported water, the panelists said. Also, they shared their recent experiences and plans in four general areas: indirect reuse for groundwater replenishment; enhanced stormwater capture; conservation; and integration of groundwater basin and imported water system operations. The luncheon keynoter was Ken Manning, executive officer with San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority. His keynote focused on the development of groundwater basins in Southern California and how water policy in the Los Angeles region was shaped by natural and man-made events. He offered perspective on water issues that impacted the Gold Rush era, the floods of 1862 and 1938, railroad and land development, population growth, infrastructure and industry growth, World War II and the dramatic increases in water demand bolstered by freeway system development and the baby boom generation, the formation of districts to replenish the basins, as well as water quality issues. The first afternoon panel, “When We Tussle — Storage Rights,” was moderated by Rob Katherman, director of the
Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD), who provided background on Central Basin and West Basin, as well as the potential for storage. Katherman introduced panelist Robb Whitaker, WRD’s general manager, who spoke about the decade-long effort to amend the two basins’ judgments to allow for storage and the role of WRD in replenishment and storage. Panelist Bill Kruse, attorney for Central Basin Water Association, commented on the legal history of the storage judgment amendments and the current legal situation. Panelist Kevin Wattier, general manager for the City of Long Beach, described the city’s perspective as a pumper, along with its efforts to mediate a settlement agreement with groundwater producing cities. Panelist Tony Perez, new general manager of Central Basin Municipal Water District, described how his district sees its role in storage and the region’s future water supply. The final panel, “Groundwater Quality Challenges — The Future Is Now,” was moderated by Rich Atwater, executive director, Southern California Water Committee. He introduced Don Froelich, Division 3 vice president, Moulton Niguel Water District, who described the Hexavalent Chromium Removal Research Project Report managed by the City of Glendale Department of Water & Power. Continued on page 7
ACWA Region News Continued from page 6
During this panel discussion, Greg Galindo, general manager of La Puente Valley County Water District, gave a presentation on Main San Gabriel Groundwater Basin contamination and clean-up efforts. He said contamination was first found in 1979, with 30 treatment facilities constructed to date. He also said 130 wells have had contaminants detected over a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). Contamination levels vary throughout the valley for several different
contaminants., Galindo added Concluding the panel was Issam Najm, president of Water Quality & Treatment Solution Inc. (WQTS). Najm explained that knowledge regarding the potential cost implications for chromium-6 treatment has been limited to research done by only a handful of drinking water utilities. Building on past and ongoing research on chromium-6 treatment, the Water Research Foundation funded a project for which a final report is an-
ticipated in 2013, Najm added. WQTS developed a cost estimation tool to help drinking water systems estimate a range of potential costs to remove chromium 6 from their water based on system-specific information about the impacted well, water quality and residuals handling. “As ACWA Region 8 chair, I’m happy with the number of attendees and I really enjoyed the program and the Q&A sessions,” Pringle said.
Calling All Nominations ACWA
Emissary award 2013 Recognizing Remarkable Contributions
Objective
The award recognizes individual ACWA member volunteers who have advanced ACWA’s mission and goals through their direct involvement. Individuals demonstrate: • Leadership in the course of service on ACWA committees • Advocacy / outreach at local, state and / or federal levels • Commitment of time and expertise for the benefit of an ACWA program or issue
Who Is Eligible?
Any ACWA committee member, ACWA region board member or ACWA Board member who is employed by an ACWA public agency member is eligible to nominate any staff, consultant or board member of an ACWA public agency member.
When Are Nominations Due?
Nominations must be received at the ACWA offices by September 3, 2013. An official nomination form and further details about the award, eligibility and selection process are available at www.acwa.com.
2012 Chet Anderson 2011 Greg Zlotnick 2010
David Orth
2009 Randy Fiorini 2008 Jess Senecal July 19, 2013 • 7
ACWA Elections
ACWA Region Election Process Launched for 2014-’15 Term The ACWA region election process is officially under way for the 2014-’15 term. The elections reconstitute the boards of each region, including the region chair, vice chair and board members. Nominating committees have been appointed by the current chairs of each region and are posted at acwa.com. The committees are tasked with identifying and reviewing qualifications of eligible region chair, vice chair and board member candidates for the 2014-’15 term. The election begins on August 1, 2013, when the region nominating committees announce their recommended slate for each of the 10 region boards. An official electronic ballot identifying the recommended slate and any additional candidates for consideration will be sent to all ACWA member agencies. Only one ballot per agency will be accepted. All region election ballots must be received at ACWA by Sept. 30, and election results will be announced on Oct. 4, 2013. Region election materials for your region are available at http://www.acwa. com/content/region-elections. If you have questions, please contact Regional Affairs Representatives Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com, Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com, or call (916) 441-4545.
ACWA Seeks Board Officer Candidates for ‘14 –’15 Term, Recommendations Due Sept. 3 The ACWA Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations from member agencies for nominations for ACWA president and vice president for the 2014-’15 elected term. To be eligible for election, candidates must be elected or appointed directors of ACWA member agencies, according to ACWA Board of Directors policy. Other nomination requirements include submitting an official resolution of nomination from an ACWA member agency board of directors indicating the agency’s support and backing for its nominated director; and including a resume of the proposed candidate’s background for the Nominating Committee’s review. (A board resolution also will be required should an individual be nominated from the floor at the general session during the 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition.) ACWA pays the expenses for officers to attend designated events during their term. Recommendations must be received in the ACWA office by Sept. 3, 2013, to be considered by the Nominating Committee. Nominees will be notified regarding individual interviews in September. Elections are scheduled for December 4 during the ACWA 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition at the JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles. Nominating Committee members
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are Paul Kelley, Region 1; Thad Bettner, Region 2; Joe Parker, Region 3; Mike Hardesty, Region 4;David Hodgin, Region 5; William Diedrich, Region 6; J. Paul Hendrix, Region 7; Stephen Cole, Region 8; Martha Davis, Region 9; and Linda Ackerman, Region 10. The committee was appointed by ACWA President Randy Record during the 2013 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Sacramento. “California water agencies are facing many challenges now and in the coming years,” said Nominating Committee Chair Paul Kelley. “The Association of California Water Agencies is at the forefront of working through those challenges and needs capable individuals to provide leadership at this key time. The Nominating Committee encourages qualified individuals to seriously consider becoming a candidate for these key positions.” To recommend a candidate for nomination, send a copy of the agency resolution and the candidate’s background by Sept. 3 to: Paul Kelley, Nominating Committee Chair, c/o ACWA 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814 The resolution can be downloaded at http://www.acwa.com/sites/default/files/ news/all/2013/06/sample-resolution_ nominate.pdf. Contact ACWA Clerk of the Board Donna Pangborn at (916) 441-4545 for more information.
ACWA Preferred Provider Program
English Translation Services Available from ACWA Preferred Provider Avantpage Under AB 938 enacted by the state legislature in 2011, public water systems are required to translate Tier 1 notices into multiple languages, based on the population of their service areas. To help members comply with this requirement, ACWA developed Tier 1 notice templates in a variety of languages through Avantpage, an ACWA Preferred Provider. “Avantpage was instrumental in providing accurate and timely translations for ACWA members to comply with AB 938, which requires boil water, do not use and do not drink notices to be translated into various languages based on population in a water agency’s service area,” said Danielle Blacet, ACWA’s special projects manager. “These translated notices will assist ACWA members in their efforts to educate customers on critical service interruptions due to water quality issues.” Avantpage translated notices into 35 languages: Arabic, Armenian (Eastern and Western), Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Farsi, French, French Creole, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Hmong, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian and Continental), Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Punjabi, Mien, Romanian and Ukrainian.
This first set of translated Tier 1 notices is available to member agencies that contributed funds to the translation project. Other members wishing to access translated notices may do so for a reasonable fee. For all three notices, Avantpage translated a total of 1,179 words for each of the 35 languages. This project involved coordination of 35 different translation teams, making sure they were up to speed on ACWA’s requirements and adhered to the budget and a tight deadline. Avantpage’s translators, project managers and IT experts all coordinated their efforts to deliver accurate, consistent, high-quality translations on a rolling basis to meet the deadline. As a result, ACWA members not only can meet their legal requirements under AB 938, but also can communicate directly and effectively with their Limited English Proficient (LEP) customers. Avantpage also developed a number of letter templates for ACWA that can be repurposed for different situations. These can be used to reach out to a large community of nonEnglish speaking individuals to keep them informed about the quality of their water. In addition, Avantpage translation services are available around the clock to answer lastminute questions and take requests. If your water agency requires assistance
outside normal business hours, please call Avantpage at (530) 750-2040, x1 (office) or (530) 867-1148. Founded 16 years ago, Avantpage is a translation industry leader serving government, education, health care, financial, legal and other sectors. Avantpage is located in Northern California and has successfully completed state, national and international contracts, partnering with government and private entities.
Avantpage Translations 1138 Villaverde Lane Davis, CA 95618 Tel: 530.750.2040 Fax: 530.750.2024 www.avantpage.com
July 19, 2013 • 9
NEwswatch
EMWD Debuts Technologically Advanced Weather Stations Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) recently unveiled two new weather stations in its service area as part of an ongoing state program to collect and distribute weather information to assist irrigators in managing water resources. The weather stations, located at the Moreno Valley Ranch Golf Course and at the Perris Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility, are part of the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS), which is operated through the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). As part of EMWD’s tiered rate structure, outdoor water budgets are calculated based on a landscaped area’s rate of evaporation and transpiration, known as evapotranspiration. The weather stations play a pivotal role in calculating the evapotranspiration for the microclimate in which the weather station is located. Additional stations within EMWD’s boundaries help provide an extremely accurate basis for calculating the budget allocations in customer water bills.
The Perris location includes a 24,000 square-foot grass-landscaped demonstration area required by DWR to improve and test the accuracy of the weather stations. The demonstration area is also equipped with four types of sprinkler nozzles and two types of subterranean drip systems donated by Rainbird, Hunter Industries and the Toro Company. This monitoring allows EMWD to ensure that the controllers the district offers through its directinstall and rebate programs are properly synced with the information relayed by the weather station, thus providing accurate watering times based on actual conditions. The weather station features include air temperature and humidity sensors, a wind vane, rain gauge, and a lightning rod – all powered by a solar panel. The stations can detect total solar radiation, soil and air temperature, wind direction and speed. DWR has more than 120 CIMIS stations located throughout the state and more than 6,000 unique users access the online information on an annual basis.
“This is truly an example of using technology to simultaneously benefit our customers and improve our conservation efforts,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “These weather stations allow us to provide our customer base with accurate billing information and ensure that we are using our water supply in the most efficient means possible.”
San Diego Considers Major Hydroelectric Project at San Vicente Southern California’s energy supply is expected to be tight for at least the next few years due to the permanent closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, so alternative energy sources could be at a premium in the region. San Diego already is looking ahead at a possible solution. The city and the San Diego County Water Authority are funding a feasibility study for a major pumped storage facility at San Vicente Reservoir which could generate up to 500 megawatts, enough power for approximately 325,000 homes. A small reservoir of approximately 10,000 acre-feet would have to be built
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above the newly expanded San Vicente, where the finishing touches are being put on a dam raise that added 152,000 acrefeet of water storage capacity. According to the Water Authority, power would be generated during peak-demand times by allowing water to flow downhill in a tunnel from the upper reservoir and turn turbines before entering the San Vicente Reservoir. Water would be pumped back uphill during off-peak periods. “Given the closure of the San Onofre plant, it makes sense for us to determine whether we can leverage our experience with hydroelectric power to
help meet the region’s need for clean energy,” Frank Belock, a deputy general manager at the Water Authority, said in a statement. “The concept of pumped storage at San Vicente has been on our radar for years and is a natural next step now that the San Vicente Dam Raise project is almost complete. An independent economic review will help the Board of Directors determine whether we should make it a priority.” The study is expected to be completed next spring. If approved, the construction on the hydroelectric project could take at least five years.
Newswatch
Electric Car Charging Stations Serve the Public at Western’s Office Western Municipal Water District has taken another step to reduce its carbon footprint by installing two electric car charging stations at its office in Riverside. The stations are available to the public 24 hours a day at a small fee. “Already a Silver LEED certified building, adding electric charging stations to our Meridian office is a nice complement to the building’s green components,” said Board President Tom Evans. Electric charging rates are $1 per hour with a $4 maximum. Payments will be made with a pay-by-phone service. Users will receive a text code from a third-party service to enter into the
charging unit. Electric car owners without a smartphone will be able to call the payby-phone service, provide a credit card number and then will be provided a code. Western covered the costs to prepare the site and utilized a $5,000 grant from the California Energy Commission to pay for equipment and installation of the charging stations. The charging stations are listed on websites such as plugshare. com that are designed to help electric car owners find them using a smartphone. Earlier this year, Western staff worked with the district’s board to research projects that not only reduce the region’s carbon footprint but also assist customers, stakeholders and employees.
More Research Needed on Water-Energy Nexus, Study Finds Knowledge gaps remain in research about the relationship between energy and water usage, according to a study released July 9. The paper, titled “Water-Energy Nexus Research: Recommendations for Future Opportunities,” was commissioned by The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) and its partner the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The two nonprofits said they convened a work group of officials from energy and water utilities, as well as university researchers and subject matter experts from government agencies, to examine 200 existing research studies related to the waterenergy nexus. “Water is needed to produce energy, and energy is needed to pump, treat, move, and heat water. These linkages are profound. Our ability to achieve energy and water security as well as successful carbon reduction will only occur if we manage this connection between water and energy,” said Mary Ann Dickinson, president and CEO of AWE. “The report shines a light on where deeper understanding is most needed. We intended the report to advise Congress, the De-
partment of Energy, funders and researchers on meaningful progress toward a holistic approach to efficiency.” The report identifies specific areas where research and action should be focused: • Collect embedded energy in water data to determine the impact nationally of energy use in the water sector. • Conduct detailed audits of embedded energy demands for an entire water and wastewater system to help determine opportunities for system optimization. • Identify and eliminate regulatory barriers to co-implementation of energy and water efficiency programs. • Develop water and energy industry accepted evaluation, measurement and verification protocols for efficiency programs. • Assess potential impacts to water supplies and quality from energy resource development, such as hydraulic fracturing and biofuels development, and identify solutions to mitigate these impacts.
‘The relationship between these two resources (water and energy) goes beyond simply the demand of one resource on the other, but includes many shared challenges and issues that may pose opportunities for collaboration by management agencies and markets to more effectively address them,” the report said. To read the report, go to http://www. allianceforwaterefficiency.org.
Water-Energy Nexus Research
Recommendations for Future Opportunities
FINAL REPORT June 2013 Project No. 130240
Prepared by:
July 19, 2013 • 11
People News
Public Agency Members Central Contra Costa Sanitary District The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Board of Directors voted unanimously on July 11 to appoint Roger S. Bailey as the district’s new general manager. He will assume his duties on August 19. Bailey will succeed Curtis S. Swanson, who has been serving as interim general manager since January. Throughout his career Bailey has led several major municipally owned utility departments across the United States. He most recently served as the head of the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department. Prior to joining the City of San Diego in 2010, he was deputy city manager and utilities director for the City of Glendale, Ariz.; utilities director for the City of Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; assistant utilities director for the City of Valdosta, Ga.; and senior engineer with the City of Tallahassee Water Utilities Department in Florida. Bailey is a registered professional engineer. His professional affiliations include the International City/County Management Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Works Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environmental Federation. His education includes
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Florida A&M University, and a bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from the University Of Winnipeg, Canada.
Cucamonga Valley Water District Cucamonga Valley Water District Board Director Kathy Tiegs has been appointed to the Business Advisory Council of Assembly Member Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga). In the position, Tiegs will have an opportunity to communicate to the assembly member about the significant issues impacting the water industry and how statewide legislation may impact the water industry and Cucamonga Valley Water District customers. “Director Tiegs is a true leader in local government and the water industry,” Morrell said in a statement. “She will be a valuable addition to the Business Advisory Council and the goals we are working to accomplish.” Tiegs currently represents CVWD on the ACWA Region 9 Board of Directors and on the ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority. She also serves on the California Special Districts Association Board of Directors, as well as the local chapter of the Association of San Bernardino County
Special Districts, where she serves as president. She also serves as a director for the Fontana Union Water Company. “It is so important for CVWD to build these types of relationships in order to effect change in Sacramento that can benefit our customers and the water industry as a whole,” Tiegs said. She was elected to the CVWD Board of Directors in 2005.
Dublin San Ramon Services Distric Georgean M. Vonheeder-Leopold, a lifetime resident of Alameda County who has been active in local government and community organizations for more than 35 years, was elected July 10 to the Alameda Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) as the alternate special district representative for a four-year term. Vonheeder-Leopold currently serves as vice president of the Dublin San Ramon Services District, where she has been a board member from 1992 to 2000 and from 2009 to the present. Vonheeder-Leopold was active in scouting and youth sports while raising four children. In 1977, she began serving on the Dublin Municipal Advisory Committee. She worked on the campaigns to incorporate Dublin and San Ramon Continued on page 14
Got an outreach program worth talking about?
Calling for Entries
Enter your agency’s outstanding public relations efforts in ACWA’s Huell Howser Best in Blue Award this fall! The award recognizes outstanding achievements by public water agencies in communicating with customers, legislators, media and the public. The award will be presented at ACWA’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles. Entries must be submitted by Sept. 3. Details and entry forms are at acwa.com.
12 • ACWA NEWS
Vol. 41 No. 7
CALENDAR August 14
ACWA 2013 Regulatory Summit is Aug. 14 at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach, Oxnard. The program’s focus will be groundwater. Registration is available online at www.acwa.com/events/acwa2013-regulatory-summit. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
ACWA Events
Northern California Tour traveling the length of the Sacramento Valley on Oct. 16 – 18. Stops include Oroville and Shasta dams, Red Bluff Fish Passage Improvement Project, Feather River Fish Hatchery, Clear Creek restoration site, GCID’s fish screen and Delevan Wildlife Refuge. For more information go to www.watereducation.org.
24 – 25
September 12
Energy and Water Nexus Summit 2 is Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Aquarium of the Bay, Pier 39, San Francisco. This all-day event will explore the developments, challenges, innovations and considerations around energy and water in Northern California. For registration and more information go to http://bayplanningcoalition.ticketleap.com/energyand-water-nexus-summit-2/.
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ACWA’s Region 9 Tour & Program is Sept. 13 at East Valley Water District, Highland. Tour of Seven Oaks Dam in the morning, lunch speaker on Santa Ana Sucker fish followed by two panel discussions on Emergency Management / Preparedness and Energy Independence. Registration will be available online Aug. 5 at www.acwa.com. For more information contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representatives Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com.
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ACWA Region 3 / Mountain Counties Water Resources Association will hold a joint meeting Friday, Sept. 13, at The Ridge Golf Club and Events Center, Auburn. For more information visit http:// mountaincountieswater.com/meeting-schedule/ upcoming-meetings/ or contact Executive Director John Kingsbury at johnkingsbury.mcwra@gmail.com.
30 – 3
2013 Annual CA-NA AWWA Fall Conference is scheduled Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 at the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento. For more information go to http://ca-nv-awwa.org.
October 3 – 4
ACWA’s 2013 Continuing Legal Education Workshop (CLE) is Oct. 3 – 4 at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
8 – 9
29th Biennial Groundwater Conference & Groundwater Resources Association Annual Meeting is Oct. 8 – 9 in Sacramento. For more information visit www.grac.com.
16 – 18
Water Education Foundation will host a three-day
Other Events
ACWA Regions 2 & 4 will host a Regional Water Forum & Bike Tour Oct. 24 – 25. Registration will be available online Sept. 6 at www.acwa.com. For more information contact ACWA Regional Affairs Representatives Marcia Wulff at marciaw@acwa.com or Katie Dahl at katied@acwa.com.
November 7 – 8
Water Education Foundation’s San Joaquin River Restoration Tour is Nov. 7 – 8. The tour includes stops at Friant Dam, Interim San Joaquin River Salmon Conservation and Research Facility, Chowchilla Bifurcation and Canal, Mendota Pool, Sack Dam, Sand Slough Control Structure, and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. For more information go to http://www.watereducation.org/toursdetail. asp?id=845&parentID=821.
December 3 – 6
ACWA’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition is Dec. 3 – 6 at the JW Marriott LA Live, Los Angeles. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
2014 February 3 – 6
March 14
ACWA’s 2014 Washington D.C. Conference is Feb. 25 – 27 at the Liaison Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. For more information, contact ACWA’s Member Services and Events Department at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
ACWA Region 3 / Mountain Counties Water Resources Association will hold a joint meeting Friday, March 14, at the El Dorado Irrigation District, Placerville. For more information visit http://mountaincountieswater.com/ meeting-schedule/upcoming-meetings/ or contact Executive Director John Kingsbury at johnkingsbury.mcwra@gmail.com. July 19, 2013 • 13
People News Obituary
ACWA Mourns Passing of JoAnne Casteel, Former Benefits Administrator Former ACWA Benefits Administrator JoAnne Casteel, who retired from ACWA in 1996 after 20 years with the association, passed away June 17. She was 76. Casteel joined ACWA in 1976 as a receptionist and held several positions over the years, including public affairs assistant, typesetter for ACWA News and manager of insurance and information systems. She retired as benefits administrator in August 1996. During her tenure, ACWA brought the administration of its health, dental,
vision and life insurance programs inhouse, a move that improved service and resulted in significant cost savings for association members. When insurance reforms threatened the viability of ACWA’s health plans in the early 1990s, Casteel worked tenaciously to help secure legislative and administrative remedies that kept the association’s health offerings intact. Casteel forged long-term relationships with many ACWA members, and her personal commitment to members and her knowledge of the benefits industry served the association well and distinguished its health plans from others in the business.
John Fraser, who served as ACWA’s executive director from 1973 until his retirement in 1992, called Casteel a loyal employee who worked tirelessly to take care of ACWA members. “I had the pleasure of bringing JoAnne into the organization,” Fraser said. “She did an excellent job pulling all of our member benefits together to provide excellent service to our members.” Casteel is survived by her children, Jason Casteel, Jerri Esquibell and Joleen Anderson; several grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Continued from page 12
Newsha Ajami, 37, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Ajami has been senior research associate at the Pacific Institute since 2011. She was a California Council on Science and Technology policy fellow at the Regional Water Quality Boards California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee from 2010 to 2011 and Gov. Jerry Brown announced three a consultant at Berkeley Economic Connew appointments to California’s Resulting Inc. from 2007 to 2010. Ajami gional Water Quality Control Boards on was a postdoctoral researcher at the UniJuly 10. The boards set water quality standards, versity of California, Berkeley from 2005 to 2009. She earned a doctoral degree in OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE issue waste discharge requirements, detercivil and environmental engineering from mine compliance and take enforcement actions within regional boundaries based the University of California, Irvine and on watersheds. Board members serve part a master’s degree in hydrology and water resources from the University of Arizona. time and are appointed by the governor that led to incorporation elections for the City of Dublin in 1982 and the City of San Ramon in 1983. She served on the first Dublin Planning Commission, which was tasked with writing the first general plan.
Move-in ready office space. Kimberly Cox, 53, of Helendale, has and confirmed by the state Senate. One block from the State Capitol. been appointed to the Lahontan Regional SUITE 300 ±2,200 Rentable SF Office forSUITE Lease350 ±1,850 Rentable SF Two suites available in Sacramento, one block from StateFSG Capitol (910 K St.). RATE $1.65 perthe RSF, • Suite 350 – 1,850 sq. ft. & Suite 300 – 2,200 sq.ft. Great Downtown CBD location, only one block to • Move-in readyPoffice space • Immediate access to Interstate 5 and Interstate 80 State Capitol • Walking distance to Westfield Downtown Shopping Center, restaurants, and hotels P Perfect for lobbyists and professional firms • Centrally located in the heart of the Sacramento Central Business District P Walking distance to restaurants, hotels, and professional For more information, contact Mark Tabak: 916.288.4818 or mark.tabak@cushwake.com services
P Beautiful historic building P Wired for alarm service 14 • ACWA NEWS Vol. 41on-site No. 7 parking P 2/1000
Water Quality Control Board. Cox has been general manager at Helendale Community Services District since 2007. She was senior management analyst for the City of Victorville from 2003 to 2007 and a water resource specialist for the City of Hesperia from 1999 to 2003. Cox was a customer service representative at STREET Roadway Express from910 1991 toK1999. She earned a master’s of public administration SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA in water resource management from California State University, San Bernardino. Stefanie Warren, 35, of San Diego, SUITES has beenTWO appointed to the SanAVAILABLE Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. Warren has been an attorney at McKenna Long and Aldridge since 2006. She was a law clerk for the Hon. Irma E. Gonzalez from 2005 to 2006. Warren earned a law degree from Emory University.
August 14, 2013
3 1 0 2 Register Today!
Past, Present and Future:
Effectively Managing California’s Groundwater Resources
Join us for the third annual ACWA Regulatory Summit on Aug. 14 at Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach in Oxnard. The Summit will include topics such as: •
It’s Finally Here: Draft CA Maximum Contaminant Level for Hexavalent Chromium
•
UCMR3 Early Results: What Have We Found and What Does it Mean?
•
Superfund or Super Waste of Time: After 30 Years is CERCLA Meeting the Needs of Water Agencies?
•
Salt and Nutrient Management Planning in the Central Valley: “Do it Here and You Should Be Able to Do it Anywhere”
•
Shrink Your Energy Bill: Tips to Manage the Energy-Groundwater Nexus
•
ASR is A-OK: Developing an Effective Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project
•
Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing in California: A Wastewater and Water Quality Perspective
Full description of the sessions are available at www.acwa.com/events/ acwa-2013-regulatory-summit. The day will conclude with an in-depth discussion of “Groundwater’s Regulatory Future in California.” Where are groundwater management and future regulations are headed? Are local/regional activities enough to sustain California’s basins for the future or does the state need to step in? A continental breakfast and lunch is included.
Questions? Please contact ACWA’s Member Services & Events at events@acwa.com or 916.441.4545.
Registration Registration is available online at www.acwa.com/events/acwa-2013regulatory-summit. Preregistration and cancellation deadline is July 31, 2013, 4:30 p.m. (PST). Advantage Pricing Preregistered – $235 Onsite – $260 Standard Pricing Preregistered – $350 Onsite – $385 To be eligible for “Advantage” Pricing you MUST be an ACWA Public Agency member, Associate or Affiliate.
Hotel Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort 2101 Mandalay Beach Rd, Oxnard, CA Group Rate: $169/night (resort view) The cut-off date to receive this special rate is July 25, 2013. For reservations, call 805.984.2500 (ask for ACWA Regulatory Summit rate) or go to http://tinyurl.com/RS13Hotel.
ACWA’s Groundwater Committee will meet Aug.13 at the same location.
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This program has been approved for 5 hours of California Department of Public Health water treatment/distribution contact hours.
An exhibit area is located adjacent to the meeting rooms. Exhibitors with topical posters or services are invited to submit a Tabletop Exhibit Space Application available at www.acwa.com/events/acwa-2013regulatory-summit.
classifieds
Positions Open General Manager Browns Valley Irrigation District Browns Valley Irrigation District, located approximately 55 miles north of Sacramento, CA, is seeking an exceptional candidate for the position of General Manager. The District provides irrigation water, to both valley floor ag lands and foothill homesteads through a diverse system of irrigation canals, pipelines and hydroelectric generation. This is a great opportunity to join one of the oldest California irrigation districts with both senior Yuba River water rights and a District owned reservoir. POSITION The General Manager reports to a five member elected Board and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the District. This position has overall responsibility for policy development, water resource planning, distribution, fiscal management, employee relations, engineering, administration and operation of all district functions, programs and activities. The incumbent is responsible for accomplishing District goals and objectives, implementing the policies of the Board of Directors, and representing the Board’s policies with employees, community organizations and the general public. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Any combination of education and experience which would likely provide the necessary knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Education/Experience: A Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration or closely related field from an accredited college or university is desirable. Broad and extensive work experience in a management or administrative position in a public agency, requiring the responsibility for the formulation and implementation of programs, budgets, and administrative operations. Experience in working with an elected board or commission is desirable. SALARY The salary range for this position is highly competitive with an excellent benefits package, including CalPERS retirement (2% @ 55). Interested candidates should immediately submit a resume, compelling cover letter of interest, salary history, and professional references via email to Donna@ bvid.org. This position is open until filled; however, candidates are encouraged to apply early for optimal consideration. Confidential inquiries are welcome to Mr. Walter Cotter at (530) 743-5703.
Association of California Water Agencies 910 K Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95814-3577
Periodicals Postage Paid at Sacramento, CA
Time Valued Material
HR Manager El Toro Water District El Toro Water District, a government entity, seeks an HR manager to handle all aspects of HR responsibilities. Only applicants with a completed application and resume will be considered. If interested, please visit our website at www.etwd.com/html/HR.htm for further details and to apply.
Senior Civil Engineer Fresno Irrigation District Fresno Irrigation District is looking for a Civil Engineer to help their team in its continued
efforts to manage water resources. The Civil Engineer provides highly technical engineering services, aids in the planning, design and construction of District structures and facilities; performs a variety of office and field duties; ensures the safety of District facilities; ensures compliance with regulations or contractual obligations; provides direction for engineering staff; serves as resident engineer on construction projects; and provides assistance to customers, construction personnel, outside agencies and others. Visit the Fresno Irrigation District website for detailed information and application. Open until filled.
Customers Can Pay Water Bills at 7-Eleven Padre Dam MWD, as well as water utilities in Fairfield, Glendale, Santa Rosa and Tracy, are among a growing number of water districts in California where customers can pay their water bill with cash at a 7-Eleven convenience store.
A store cashier will take the customer’s bill and cash, scan a barcode on the bill, and give the customer a receipt. Payments are posted to the customer’s account the next day. A water bill must have a 7-Eleven logo and the accompanying barcode to be eligible for this payment service, which is enabled by an “electronic cash transaction network” called PayNearMe. PayNearMe assigns a unique barcode to each utility bill that Californiabased company InfoSend distributes to customers. The municipality is notified of its payment in real time, according to PayNearMe. The payment processing at
the convenience store takes less than a minute. The company says its technology reduces the number of customers who visit a water district’s main office in order to make a payment. For example, more than 5% of customers in Fairfield paid their water bill last year through PayNearMe. David Guhin, director of utilities for the City of Santa Rosa, said the electronic cash network is another way customers can make a quick-and-easy payment, and minimal effort was needed to implement of the new technology. “Our goal is to provide the best customer service possible,” Guhin said. “A portion of our customers still pay in cash, and our partnership with PayNearMe will create convenient remote payment locations.”