North County water agencies receive award for ‘Career Day’

The WateReuse Association of California recently honored Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Elijo Joint Powers Authority and Leucadia Wastewater with its 2025 Outreach and Education Program of the Year award, according to a news release.

Presented during the association’s annual conference, the award recognizes the three North County agencies’ 2024 Water Career Day, which welcomed high school and college students and military veterans to learn about careers in water, wastewater and recycled water.Each agency engaged with attendees at interactive stations, performed demonstrations on real-world infrastructure, and offered insight into the industry’s wide variety of career pathways.

“We are honored to receive this award recognizing Water Career Day,” said Leucadia Wastewater District Board President Rolando Saldana in the news release. “By engaging high school and college students, we hope to inspire the next generation to consider careers in the water and wastewater industry – vital services that protect public health, the environment and our community’s future.”

The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority is proud to have hosted the event last year and is excited to build upon it’s success during its next Career Day on Oct. 22, said Chairwoman Kristi Becker, a Solana Beach City Councilmember, in the news release.

“By inspiring students and veterans to explore careers in water, we advance our mission to provide safe and reliable recycled water and wastewater services that protect public health and the environment,” Becker said.

And this from OMWD Board President Matthew R. Hahn in the news release: “With firsthand experience across various areas in the water industry, these students are more equipped to choose their future career paths. Water Career Day fostered a stronger appreciation for careers in the water sector among the next generation.“

About WateReuse Association and the agencies, according to the news release:

Formed in 1990, WateReuse Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the beneficial and efficient uses of high-quality, locally produced, sustainable water sources for the betterment of society and the environment through advocacy, education and outreach, research, and membership. WateReuse California is a state section of WateReuse Association.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District is a public agency providing water, wastewater services, recycled water, hydroelectricity, and operation of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Organized in 1959, OMWD currently serves approximately 87,000 customers over 48 square miles in northern San Diego County.

The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority is a local leader in environmental stewardship, providing award winning wastewater treatment and recycled water services for the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe.

Leucadia Wastewater District was formed in 1959 to collect, transport, and treat wastewater and provide recycled water for irrigation. LWD provides service to about 60,000 customers in a 16-square-mile area that includes La Costa, Leucadia, and the Village Park area of Encinitas. LWD manages about 4 million gallons of treated wastewater daily.