Riverside, Calif. – Director S.R. “Al” Lopez, Western Municipal Water District’s newly confirmed board president, took the gavel at today’s board meeting. During his year as president, he is committed to securing local water sources for the region through collaboration with surrounding water agencies on cost-effective solutions. In addition Board President Lopez is dedicated to providing top-quality community outreach on District projects, programs and initiatives.
Lopez represents Western’s Division 5, which includes the city of Corona as well as the communities of Home Gardens, El Cerrito and a portion of Temescal Canyon. Western member agencies in the area include the city of Corona, Eagle Valley Mutual Water Company, Home Gardens Sanitary District and Home Gardens County Water District.
Lopez has been a board member since January 2001 and represents Western on committees for several agencies, including the Chino Desalter Authority; the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority; the Temescal Valley Municipal Advisory Council; and the Association of California Water Agencies Local Government and the Joint Powers Insurance Authority committees.
In addition, he is the alternate representative for the Metropolitan Water District’s Southern Coalition and the Western Riverside Council of Governments Executive Committee. Lopez serves on the joint committee of Western and Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and is the alternate for the Santa Rosa Regional Resource Authority committee and the ad-hoc committee of Western and Rancho California Water District. He is also a member of Western’s Community & Government Affairs and Finance committees.
“As we still face the ongoing drought, it’s important to remain focused on local water reliability projects to ensure water for the future,” said Lopez. “I intend to continue to foster partnerships with neighboring agencies to bring projects, like water storage, recycled water and desalting, to fruition.”
The two other board officer positions announced at the meeting include Thomas P. Evans, Division 2, as vice president, and Brenda Dennstedt, Division 3, as secretary-treasurer. Rounding out the Board of Directors are Bob Stockton, representing Division 1, and Don Galleano, representing Division 4. Officers serve a one-year term. Western’s board has set strategic goals for the coming year to include continued expansion of local water resources, agency collaboration and customer partnerships for water use efficiency. The District’s Board of Directors is supported by General Manager John. V. Rossi, who leads a 150-plus workforce that provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.
Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.
