So here they are…

Winner [...]]]> If you came to Castaic Lake Water Agency’s Annual Open House on Saturday, then you might have heard if you were a winner! For the rest of you who have been waiting with baited breath, the wait is over! We were excited at the number of quality ideas that we received over the last eight weeks and it is a lot of fun to give prizes away to some of the best and most practical ideas.

So here they are…

Winner of the Single Adult Category-

Becky Van Sickle of Valencia uses SCV-friendly plants, but she reminds us that SCV-friendly plants can look beautiful and vibrant, even though they require less water. Her first choice: Gazanias!

Winner of the Family Category-

Jeff Courtney of Canyon Country offered some creative ideas on how he has used rocks and cacti decoratively in his landscaping to save water. He submitted a fabulous collage of visual examples at his own house of how he uses water more efficiently.

Winner of the Senior Category-

Mae Rusk of Newhall offered not one, but five “not so obvious” ways to use water more efficiently. Her ideas ranged from encouraging the widespread use of water-based irrigation controllers, to utilizing a bucket to catch cold shower water before it gets hot. She uses this cold water for her outdoor potted plants. Great idea.

Grand Prize Winner of a $5,000 landscape makeover-

Steve Petzold of Saugus offered great ideas on how to use rock and stone in residential landscaping, but he also requested a small garden plot in or around Central Park to encourage community sustainability and make these ideas readily available to the public.

We’ll be in touch with Steve as we move forward on his outdoor landscape makeover and we’ll be bringing you the latest on his transformation. We would like to send a huge “thank you” to Stay Green, Inc for co-sponsoring this contest with CLWA. We are grateful for their commitment to water use efficiency in our community and we are looking forward to the pictures at Steve’s house to prove it.

Please continue to check back with us at www.MyH2OSolutions.org to get updated tips on how to save water in Santa Clarita and even claim your free water-saver kit complete with a free hose nozzle, faucet aerator and other great items to control water usage inside and outside your home.

What’s Your H2O Solution?

In four days, a grand prize winner will be selected. But there’s more. Every individual who submits an idea during [...]]]> It’s your last chance to submit your H2O Solutions to be entered to WIN the grand prize courtesy of Castaic Lake Water Agency & Stay Green, Inc. Dozens of residents all over the Santa Clarita Valley are turning in their water-saver ideas for a chance to win a sustainability landscaping makeover worth $5,000. Have you shared YOUR H2O Solutions?

In four days, a grand prize winner will be selected. But there’s more. Every individual who submits an idea during the contest will win a FREE water-saver kit that can be redeemed at CLWA’s upcoming Open House at Central Park on May 5.

Visit www.MyH2OSolutions.org now to submit your water-saving ideas by April 30^th. And visit our booth at Castaic Lake Water Agency’s upcoming open house on May 5^th to pick-up your water-saver kit, complete with a free low-flow hose nozzle and other great water-saving items. Finally, be sure to be there at noon during the event when we’ll be announcing the grand prize winner of a $5,000 sustainability landscape makeover by Stay Green, Inc. It just might be you! You won’t want to miss it.

What’s Your H2O Solution?

Flier ]]> May is Watershed Awareness Month. Activities are planned throughout the month to educate the public about watershed accomplishments within the Santa Clara River watershed. See the attached flyers for information on the celebration kick-off, and tours of local projects!

This year we found our table right next to the [...]]]> We recently participated in the community Earth Arbor Day event at Santa Clarita’s Central Park. We look forward to this event every year. If you weren’t able to be there, consider going next year. You’ll keep the kids busy on the rock climbing wall, tree climbing, marshmallow shooters and magic shows; and you’ll get great tips on gardening and using water more efficiently in your home or office.

This year we found our table right next to the Santa Clarita Water Purveyors (Newhall County Water District, Valencia Water Company and Santa Clarita Water Division) with one of the best giveaway items of the day: low-flow hose nozzles. It’s true. These very fancy contraptions attach to your outdoor hose and encourage water efficiency with various low-flow settings. If you’re watering a small plant and a long flowerbed, simply adjust the setting between them without changing out your water source.

The best part about these low-flow hose nozzles was not just that they were free to the attendees of Earth Arbor Day, but they are also free to all those who submit their H2O Solutions before April 30^th.  So what’s Your H2O Solution?

Visit www.MyH2OSolutions.org to submit your water-saving ideas by April 30^th and visit our booth at Castaic Lake Water Agency’s upcoming open house on May 5^th to pick-up your water-saver kit, complete with a free low-flow hose nozzle and other great water-saving items. Finally, the grand prize winner of a $5,000 landscape makeover by Stay Green, Inc will also be announced at the Open House. It just might be you! You won’t want to miss it.

What’s Your H2O Solution?

Ideas ranging from water reuse to using native plants have started the conversation about how we can all do our part to help to save water in the Santa Clarita Valley. [...]]]> What’s Your H2O Solution? You now have two more weeks to answer this question for a chance to win a landscape sustainability makeover from Stay Green, Inc. valued at $5,000. Since March 1^st, we’ve been receiving the best water-saving ideas from you as part of our H2O Solutions contest.

Ideas ranging from water reuse to using native plants have started the conversation about how we can all do our part to help to save water in the Santa Clarita Valley.  The deadline for all submissions has now been extended to April 30^th to give you more time to participate.

Please visit www.MyH2OSolutions.org to submit your water-saving ideas. The grand prize winner will be announced at our Open House event on Saturday, May 5^th in Central Park and all individuals who participate are encouraged to visit the My H2O Solutions booth to receive a free water-saver kit for their home or office.

SCV’s Water Wholesaler Turns 50 This Month

Any time Santa Clarita Valley residents meet and the subject of their hometown comes up, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll compare notes and engage in some friendly one-upmanship over how long they’ve been here — and how much change they’ve seen since they’ve arrived.

Not many of them can beat the Castaic Lake Water Agency. Your local water wholesaler is marking its 50th year in the Santa Clarita Valley.

This [...]]]> CLWA Celebrates Golden Anniversary

SCV’s Water Wholesaler Turns 50 This Month

Any time Santa Clarita Valley residents meet and the subject of their hometown comes up, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll compare notes and engage in some friendly one-upmanship over how long they’ve been here — and how much change they’ve seen since they’ve arrived.

Not many of them can beat the Castaic Lake Water Agency. Your local water wholesaler is marking its 50^th year in the Santa Clarita Valley.

This month, CLWA celebrates its 50^th birthday — officially, April 24, which marks the date in 1962 when local citizens voted to bring State Water Project water to the Santa Clarita Valley. The Agency was organized as the Upper Santa Clara Valley Water Agency to serve as the wholesaler of State water in the SCV.

Renamed in 1970 — two years before the opening of the Castaic Lake reservoir — CLWA predates many things Santa Claritans take for granted, like the Interstate 5 freeway. Or Magic Mountain. And all of Valencia.

In fact, when CLWA was established in 1962, it would be 25 more years before local residents would vote to form a new city named Santa Clarita.

“So much has changed in our valley since the Agency was formed 50 years ago,” said CLWA President Tom Campbell. “We’re excited to celebrate CLWA’s golden anniversary, and we’re also looking forward to sharing this celebration with our community and its leaders.”

CLWA is creating a special commemorative video looking back at the Agency’s first 50 years.  When completed, the video will be posted on the Agency’s website, www.clwa.org, along with other 50^th anniversary materials that are already posted for the community to view.

The online commemorations of the 50^th anniversary include a historical timeline chronicling important dates in CLWA history — and putting them in the context of local historical events and changes that took place in the community at large. Also included is an interactive local and CLWA history quiz, and a photo gallery featuring images of important milestones, such as the opening of the Castaic Dam and the construction of CLWA’s first water treatment plant, the Earl Schmidt FiltrationPassing water through coal, sand and gravel to remove particles. Floc – Clumps of impurities removed from water during the purification process; formed when alum is added to impure water. Plant, which began delivering State water for local use in 1980.

CLWA General Manager Dan Masnada says the golden anniversary is an important milestone.

“This special anniversary is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the Agency’s accomplishments during its first 50 years, even as we continue to look ahead and plan for the future,” Masnada said. “We’re very proud of the successes the Agency has enjoyed in the ‘looking ahead’ department, as CLWA and our community have faced droughts, periods of growth and other challenges, and come through with flying colors.”

He added: “In the water industry, we spend a lot of time and effort planning for the future to ensure that our community has the reliable water supply it will need in the years to come.  In this instance, we can engage in a bit of nostalgia and fond recollection, look back at the Agency’s milestones and say, ‘Remember when…’”

###

About the Castaic Lake Water Agency:

The Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is the Santa Clarita Valley’s public water wholesaler.  CLWA operates three treatment plants, three pump stations, three storage facilities, and over 45 miles of transmission pipelines. Our mission is to provide reliable, quality water at a reasonable cost to the Santa Clarita Valley. www.clwa.org

For more information, please contact:

Dan Masnada
General Manager
Castaic Lake Water Agency
dmasnada@clwa.org

-       “Sensor faucets, like those in commercial buildings, should be designed for the home with the option for manual operation. Rebates and incentives can be offered for swap outs.” [...]]]> H2O Solutions are rolling in! We have enjoyed reviewing every new idea from residents about how they save water inside and outside of their homes. It takes a community to conserve which is why we are asking you to join in the conversation. Here are a few great ideas we’ve collected so far:

-       “Sensor faucets, like those in commercial buildings, should be designed for the home with the option for manual operation. Rebates and incentives can be offered for swap outs.” – Cynthia, SCV Resident

-       “Showers waste a lot of water because of the amount of time it takes for the water to get warm…if you have a hot and cold knob, slightly open the hot water knob until it becomes hot. Then you can fully open it resulting in less waste of water.” – Adam, SCV Resident

-       “Landscape with boulders, rocks and decorative stone, cactus, succulents & other water-wise plants.” – Judi, SCV Resident

Be Part of the H2O Solution.

What’s YOUR H2O Solution? Click here to share your creative water-saving ideas by April 15^th and enter to WIN a landscape makeover by Stay Green, Inc. worth up to $5,000!

This time, we aren’t just here to tell you some of our best water-saving ideas. We want you to know how we are making these ideas more affordable! High-efficient washing machines use only half the water that older machines use. So why not trade out your older [...]]]> Did you know that your washing machine is the second largest water user inside your home after your toilet? If you’re looking for H2O Solutions, your daily laundry habits may deserve a second look.

This time, we aren’t just here to tell you some of our best water-saving ideas. We want you to know how we are making these ideas more affordable! High-efficient washing machines use only half the water that older machines use. So why not trade out your older model and save on your water bill?

This month, in cooperation with Valencia Water Company, Newhall Water District and the Santa Clarita Water Division we began giving $200 rebates toward new high-efficient machines. Click here for the FAQ’s to see if your machine qualifies for this rebate opportunity.

This is our H2O Solution.

What’s YOUR H2O Solution? Click here to share your creative water saving ideas by April 15^th and enter to WIN a landscape makeover by Stay Green, Inc. worth up to $5,000!

Now we are making the reward even better! Not only will each solution be entered to win a $5,000 grand prize landscape makeover by Stay Green, Inc but we will also be giving away a FREE water-saving kit to each person who [...]]]> We are very excited to watch the submissions roll in. With water conservation ideas ranging from reusing dishwater for outside plants to only washing full laundry loads, we are getting some great ideas from SCV residents on how they save water.

Now we are making the reward even better! Not only will each solution be entered to win a $5,000 grand prize landscape makeover by Stay Green, Inc but we will also be giving away a FREE water-saving kit to each person who submits their H2O Solutions. The kit contains valuable tools to help you save water everyday including our very popular low-flow hose nozzles.

Simply click here to enter the contest by telling us your H2O Solution, and stop by Castaic Lake Water Agency’s upcoming Open House on Saturday, May 5 to pick up your FREE kit!

Well, we love www.santaclaritagardens.com, a resource that the SCV Family of Water Suppliers has put together for you. Santa Clarita Gardens showcases [...]]]> If you live in the Santa Clarita Valley, you know the challenges we face with outdoor plants that require significant amounts of water to keep alive.  The unique, semi-arid terrain here in the SCV is less friendly to some plants, but others thrive here and look beautiful! Are you wondering which plants we recommend?

Well, we love www.santaclaritagardens.com, a resource that the SCV Family of Water Suppliers has put together for you. Santa Clarita Gardens showcases the best SCV-friendly plants, offers a watering guide and advice on landscaping.  You can even check out of local front and backyards to see what your neighbors have done.

Get informed, find water-saving solutions and enjoy your landscape! That’s our H2O Solution. What’s YOUR H2O Solution? Click here to tell us what YOU do to save water on your landscaping.

]]> Please stop by and visit us on Saturday, May 5.  You will find us at the entrance to Central Park.  Take a walk around and visit all the vendors and activities.  Our event is free and open to the public.

So if our water consumption can be done on autopilot, why should we think about how, when and why we use [...]]]> We use it everyday. Sometimes we think about it. Sometimes we don’t. We get up in the morning, brush our teeth, take a shower, rinse the dishes and even start the car, all of which requires water. But while we’re away, we may not even think about the fact that the sprinklers are hard at work keeping the grass green.

So if our water consumption can be done on autopilot, why should we think about how, when and why we use water?

The value of water is undeniable. If we really stopped to think about all the ways we use water everyday, we all would care about preserving this precious resource. So do we? Over the last 50 years, CLWA has collected stories, tips and helpful hints about how saving water will benefit not only your family, but your community, too. So, check back with us every few days or add us to your favorites and share this with your friends. We want to keep you updated with some of our favorite H2O Solutions…and we want to know yours too!

Click here to submit your H2O Solution today and enter to win a $5,000 grand prize from Stay Green, Inc.

–$45.9 million commercial paper notes.

In addition, Fitch affirms the following ratings on the agency’s outstanding obligations:

–$67.9 million in outstanding senior lien certificates of participation (COPs) at ‘AA’;

–$230.2 million in outstanding parity lien COPs at ‘AA-’.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

SECURITY

The bank notes [...]]]> AUSTIN, Texas, Dec 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Fitch Ratings assigns an ‘AA-’ rating to the bank notes corresponding to the following Castaic Lake Water Agency, California (the agency) commercial paper notes:

–$45.9 million commercial paper notes.

In addition, Fitch affirms the following ratings on the agency’s outstanding obligations:

–$67.9 million in outstanding senior lien certificates of participation (COPs) at ‘AA’;

–$230.2 million in outstanding parity lien COPs at ‘AA-’.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

SECURITY

The bank notes are payable solely from and secured by a subordinate lien on gross revenues of the agency after payment of operations and maintenance expenses and the agency’s senior lien COPs but on parity with the agency’s other subordinate lien COPs.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

COST PRESSURE FROM POTENTIAL BANK NOTES: While the terms of potential bank notes could pressure the agency’s financial performance if the entire commercial paper authorization were to become bank notes for a sustained time period, Fitch believes that the agency’s existing financial profile as well as the agency’s implied market access to take out such notes with long-term debt serve to offset some concern.

ACCELERATION OF POTENTIAL BANK NOTES: The possible acceleration of the bank notes could also pressure the agency’s financial performance, but Fitch believes the occurrence of the acceleration event (the agency’s parity obligations falling below ‘A-’/'A3′) is sufficiently mitigated by the currently high rating level of the parity obligations.

Sound Financial Performance: The agency’s financial position is solid, although there has been some fluctuation in operating performance from year to year.

Elevated Debt Profile: While existing debt ratios are somewhat high, capital needs are manageable and proposed borrowings are not expected to materially increase the agency’s debt burden.

Water Supplies Sufficient: Water supplies are sufficient to meet member demands over the long term.

WHAT COULD TRIGGER A RATING ACTION

THIN COVERAGE: Failure to improve total annual debt service (ADS) coverage over the next few years to levels more commensurate with the existing rating level could put downward pressure on the rating.

CREDIT SUMMARY

Fitch has reviewed the interest rates, default and acceleration provisions, and amortization schedule specified in the documents governing the bank notes. Under the terms of the Letter of Credit (LOC) Reimbursement Agreement, the agency is required to pay the bank notes no later than 13 months after the stated expiration date of the LOC (Dec. 9, 2014). At present, there are no bank notes outstanding.

Financial operations of the agency have historically been favorable but have weakened somewhat, with the most recently audited fiscal year (2010) posting total ADS coverage of just 1.2 times (x) due to droughtA prolonged period of below-average precipitation. restrictions and economic weakness. Offsetting coverage concerns, liquidity and cash flows for the same period appear to be quite healthy, although analysis is limited by the use of governmental fund accounting (as opposed to proprietary fund accounting). Fiscals 2011 and 2012 coverage figures are projected to remain relatively thin, with total ADS between 1.2x-1.3x as a result of lower sales from wet weather and conservation and weaker connection fee revenues. Nevertheless, performance is currently adequate and with a recovery of sales to more normal patterns, as well as an expected adjustment to connection fee rates, total ADS coverage is projected to rebound to 1.6x by fiscal 2013 and average 2.1x over fiscal years 2013-2016.

Capital needs through fiscal 2017 total approximately $199 million and are designed to increase supplies and improve system reliability. A sizeable percentage of capital spending (48% of total CIP costs) is expected to be derived from future debt issuances, including the new commercial paper program. Despite the planned borrowings, debt levels should not be materially affected because the total borrowing level is roughly offset by the amount of debt amortizing over the next five years. Currently, the agency has an elevated debt profile, with debt per capita over 3x the ‘AA’ category median.

Located predominantly in Los Angeles County, approximately 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, CLWA provides wholesale water service to a population of approximately 230,000 persons through four retail agencies. The agency acts as a swing supplier, providing around 50% of the region’s water supplies, with the remainder derived from members’ own local sources. The agency’s water supplies mostly come from Northern California’s San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin River DeltaFan-shaped area at the mouth of a river. A California example is the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta east of San Francisco Bay. via the State Water Project (SWPState Water Project which is owned and operated by the California Department of Water Resources.). While SWPState Water Project which is owned and operated by the California Department of Water Resources. supplies have been impacted by litigation in recent years, the agency projects that it has sufficient allocations from the SWPState Water Project which is owned and operated by the California Department of Water Resources., combined with other water resources, to meet all retail demands through at least 2030.

Additional information is available at ‘ www.fitchratings.com ‘. The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

–’Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria,’ dated June 20, 2011;

–’U.S. Water and Sewer Revenue Bond Rating Criteria’, dated Aug. 10, 2011.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=637130

U.S. Water and Sewer Revenue Bond Rating Criteria

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=647331

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS . IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY’S PUBLIC WEBSITE ‘ WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM ‘. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH’S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ‘CODE OF CONDUCT’ SECTION OF THIS SITE.

SOURCE: Fitch Ratings

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-rates-castaic-lake-water-agency-cas-46mm-bank-notes-aa-2011-12-08

Agency’s General Manager Takes Pride in Staff’s Successful Planning for the Future Dan Masnada has, by any account, a big job: as General Manager of Castaic Lake Water Agency, he supervises 110 employees and is responsible for not only ensuring that the Santa Clarita Valley has a reliable supply of safe, clean, potableDrinkable. Non-potable means non-drinkable. water, but also for “steering the CLWA ship” and making sure the Agency is [...]]]> Water Experts: Masnada ‘Steering the Ship’ for CLWA

Agency’s General Manager Takes Pride in Staff’s Successful Planning for the Future
Dan Masnada has, by any account, a big job: as General Manager of Castaic Lake Water
Agency, he supervises 110 employees and is responsible for not only ensuring that the Santa Clarita Valley has a reliable supply of safe, clean, potableDrinkable. Non-potable means non-drinkable. water, but also for “steering the CLWA ship” and making sure the Agency is properly planning for the SCV’s future water needs.
Looking back on 2011, he’s proud to say those 110 employees have turned in a job well done.
“It’s been a landmark year for our agency when it comes to planning for the long term,” said Masnada, who has served as CLWA’s top executive since 2002, having brought two decades of both retail and wholesale water agency management experience to the job. “Our employees take a lot of pride in making sure we are well prepared for the future. In 2011, we saw several major projects in this effort come to fruition.”
Particularly of note, Masnada said, are:

 Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant Expansion: “This expansion was completed this year,
and it will essentially address the valley’s water treatment needs over the next two
decades before the next expansion is required,” said Masnada. The newly expanded
plant, adjacent to CLWA’s headquarters, has more than doubled its original treatment
capacity from 30 million gallons per day to 66 million gallons per day.

 Completion of 2010 Urban Water Management Plan: This state-mandated road map for
the valley’s future water supply looks ahead at anticipated supplies and demand for the
next 40 years. “We’re proud of the multi-agency cooperative effort that went into the
plan,” Masnada said. “The Santa Clarita Valley Family of Water Suppliers, plus the City
of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County through their One Valley, One Vision general
planupdates processes, all contributed to making the Urban Water Management Plan a
valuable document as we plan for the valley’s future water needs.”

 CLWA Going Solar: This year saw the installation of approximately 3.5 acres of highefficiency
SunPower® solar panels on a 5-acre portion of CLWA’s property. The
resulting 1-megawatt solar power system, designed and constructed by SunPower
Corp., is expected to supply more than 98 percent of the energy needed to power
CLWA’s headquarters and the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant. The Agency is paying
SunPower a set rate for the electricity through a 20-year power purchase agreement
(PPA) with an annual increase of 2 percent, which is less than the expected increases in
traditional energy costs. “The new, high-efficiency SunPower® solar power system will
cut our greenhouse gas emissions, help us mitigate rising energy costs, and reduce our
electricity bill, resulting in lower rates for our customers.” said Masnada. “Our decision to
invest in this system that generates emission-free, reliable solar power is a win-win-win,
benefitting the environment, CLWA and our ratepayers.”

 Santa Clarita Water Division’s New Headquarters: Having served as Vice President of
Valencia Water Co. from 1985 to 1992, Masnada has experience in — and an
appreciation of — the retail side of local water operations. At CLWA, he not only
oversees CLWA’s role as a State Water Project wholesaler, but also its ownership of the Santa Clarita Water Division, one of the SCV’s four water retailers. He said it was
gratifying in 2011 to see the SCWD move into much-needed new headquarters in the
Centre Pointe business complex. “The Santa Clarita Water Division had grown to the
point where we simply needed more room,” Masnada said, adding the new 13,000-
square-foot headquarters utilized “smart construction” techniques that will minimize
energy usage as well as heating and cooling expenses.

Masnada, who’s an avid skier and enjoys “checking the snowpack” at Mammoth Mountain on winter and spring weekends, gives all credit to CLWA’s staff. “I’m extremely proud of these accomplishments,” Masnada said, “and especially of the team we have at the agency that makes it all happen. By fulfilling potential and not just filling positions,
great things happen and we’ve been fortunate here at CLWA — we’ve assembled an amazing team and they are producing amazing results.”

###

About the Castaic Lake Water Agency:
The Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is the Santa Clarita Valley’s public water wholesaler.
CLWA operates two treatment plants, two pump stations, two storage facilities, and over 17
miles of transmission pipelines. Our mission is to provide reliable, quality water at a reasonable
cost to the Santa Clarita Valley. www.clwa.org
For more information, please contact:
Dirk Marks
Water Resources Manager
Castaic Lake Water Agency
dmarks@clwa.org

Jeff Koelewyn has firsthand knowledge to prove the point: As the Castaic Lake Water Agency’s Laboratory and Regulatory Affairs Supervisor, Koelewyn recognizes the importance of chemistry — and biology and microbiology — in ensuring that we all can take [...]]]>  

Scientific Expertise a Key for a High-Quality Water Supply

Jeff Koelewyn

When your son or daughter is in high school and complains about a chemistry experiment, hand him or her a glass of water and say, “If it wasn’t for chemistry, you couldn’t drink this.”

Jeff Koelewyn has firsthand knowledge to prove the point: As the Castaic Lake Water Agency’s Laboratory and Regulatory Affairs Supervisor, Koelewyn recognizes the importance of chemistry — and biology and microbiology — in ensuring that we all can take that drink of water with no doubts, and no reservations.

“Water quality is taken very seriously here,” Koelewyn said. “As well as going beyond what the minimum regulations require; we perform many more tests than what we have to do.”

Koelewyn supervises the water quality lab, which monitors and tests the Santa Clarita Valley’s water supply at various points, 24 hours a day.

“There are automatic systems that monitor water quality 24/7, but then we also do a variety of tests in the laboratory,” Koelewyn said. “We analyze samples from all of our systems, the Rio Vista and Earl Schmidt water treatment plants, the perchlorateA chemical used in manufacturing rocket fuel that has contaminated some California groundwaterWater that has percolated into natural, underground aquifers; water in the ground, not a puddle of water on the ground. basins. Perchlorate interferes with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. The disruption of thyroid functions leads to changes in metabolism in adults and normal growth and development in children. treatment plant, and also from our distribution system. So, we’re doing many kinds of tests to ensure that the water quality is high.”

Koelewyn, who accumulated 20 years of commercial laboratory experience before joining CLWA, has a degree in chemistry from U.C. Berkeley and supervises four chemists and a field sampler who draws samples from various locations in CLWA’s distribution system each day.

Fortunately, he says, most of the time their jobs are preventive in nature.

“We have some very sophisticated instruments in our lab to verify the absence of contaminants. We can detect dissolved metals down to the parts-per-billion levels,” Koelewyn said. “We verify that there are no bacteriaPlural of bacteriumA microscopic unicellular organism that lacks a nuclear membrane. Some can cause disease.. or disease-causing agents in the water.

One of the challenges of his job, he said, is keeping up with all of the government regulations regarding water quality.

“Sometimes you feel like a lawyer,” he said of reading and deciphering government regulations and keeping up with changes that are designed to ensure public water agencies are constantly abreast of any new external factors that could impact municipal water supplies.

Koelewyn added that he and his staff members take a great deal of pride in constantly giving everyone in the Santa Clarita Valley peace of mind that, when they turn on the tap, the water that pours into their glass is safe, reliable and of high quality.

It’s like performing a successful chemistry experiment — every day.

###

About the Castaic Lake Water Agency:
Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) is a public water wholesaler that provides about half of the water that Santa Clarita households and businesses use. CLWA operates three treatment plants, three pump stations, three storage facilities, and over 45 miles of transmission pipelines. Our mission is to provide reliable, quality water at a reasonable cost to the Santa Clarita Valley. www.clwa.org

For more information, please contact:

Dirk Marks
Water Resources Manager
Castaic Lake Water Agency
dmarks@clwa.org

Its name may be whimsical, but the APES program teachers don’t monkey around when it comes to teaching high school students about the complexities of Earth’s natural resources.

“They are so efficient at their jobs; they are very good with the kids,” said Casey Gordon, who schedules Castaic Lake Water Agency’s student education programs.   “They keep the students’ undivided attention for the full two to three hours. They are [...]]]> Advanced High School Students Get Hands-On Learning in APES Program

Its name may be whimsical, but the APES program teachers don’t monkey around when it comes to teaching high school students about the complexities of Earth’s natural resources.

“They are so efficient at their jobs; they are very good with the kids,” said Casey Gordon, who schedules Castaic Lake Water Agency’s student education programs.   “They keep the students’ undivided attention for the full two to three hours. They are constantly moving.”

Jenny McNerney, Aileen McDonald and Cindy Brady are the Advanced Placement Environmental Science or APES instructors who helped develop the high-energy program, which works in conjunction with advanced placement classes at Valencia, Canyon, Saugus and West Ranch high schools.

Participants visit CLWA’s Rio Vista Treatment Plant for classes and labs, many of which are conducted outdoors and help students prepare for AP science exams. Topics include soil structure, water quality, how the State Water Project works, and current environmental issues — always with an underlying message of environmental stewardship and conservation.

McNerney, who has worked on CLWA’s education team for 12 years, said it has been gratifying to see the educational programs grow.

“When I first started here I’d say we started with 1,500 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, and now we serve about 15,000 in all grades,” McNerney said. “Every age group is different, and it’s all hands-on.

McDonald said, “The workshop is an exciting opportunity for AP Environmental Science students to get a hands-on introduction to some of the aspects of their upcoming coursework.”

Brady said CLWA’s education specialists strive to keep the lessons relevant.

“We make things current, we talk about real life and real-time information,” said Brady. “For example, people think that waterborne diseases only happen in third world countries, but look what happened in New Orleans. How do we handle that? What do we do? That’s why we have treatment facilities. When you turn on your faucet you never have to worry about whether your water is safe.”

Brady takes a great deal of pride in furthering the teens’ education. “I think being a teacher is a tremendous impact on the community and children’s lives. The information that we leave with the kids is great for future generations.”