ISSUE 5 VOLUME 12, SEPTEMBER 2016
Get Ready Now: It's Too Late When Disaster Strikes
By Colin Eckerle                                                               
 
September is National Preparedness Month, a public awareness campaign started in 2004 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security to educate residents about steps they can take to mitigate the threat of national disasters.

Despite the efforts to raise awareness, however, it was shown in a study by the Department of Homeland Security sponsored program Citizencorps, that only 57 percent of households set aside emergency supplies. It seems that despite the availability of information on the risks of natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, flooding and hurricanes, many people do not take these threats seriously until after they occur. This unfortunate fact of human nature has been underscored by the recent August floods in Louisiana, which received more than 20 inches of rainfall in just a few days, causing areas considered relatively safe from flooding to be inundated with water. 

Having family in Louisiana, this disaster has hit closer to home than most. My uncle and aunt were at their home in Baton Rouge, the area where the worst of the flooding occurred, when the storm hit. 

Click here to read the full story 
Water Agencies Team with Boy Scouts
By Jonathan Volzke

Directors of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) have unanimously approved a partnership with the Boy Scouts to boost the number of Scouts learning about water conservation.
 
MWDOC will sponsor the "Soil and Water Conservation" merit badge in the Boy Scouts' Orange County Council, hoping to attract many of the more than 8,000 eligible Scouts in the county to earn the badge and increase their knowledge of water conservation and the challenges of reliably delivering clean water to customers. 
  
  Click here to read the full story

Scout Creates Series of Water Efficient Gardens for Anaheim Public Utilities

Anaheim Public Utilities recognized Life Scout Carl Joseph (CJ) Writer from Anaheim Hills Troop 538 for his Eagle Scout Project.
 
Together, Public Utilities staff and CJ created a brand new water conservation garden at the Lenain Water Treatment Facility. The project includ ed a series of four gardens: a succulent garden, hummingbird/butterfly garden, edible garden, and California native garden.
 
This project qualifies CJ to earn the Scout's "Hornaday Conservation Award," a prestigious honor. The garden is a welcomed addition to the facility and will serve as a symbol in the City's continued efforts toward water conservation.

REALTORS to Deliver Water-Efficiency Message Throughout Orange County
By Lauren Loewen

More than 170 REALTORS® will fan out across Orange County to deliver water-efficiency messages as part of a new partnership between the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and the Orange County Association of REALTORS® (OCAR).
 
This pilot program is developing door hangers promoting water conservation messaging and rebates for Orange County REALTORS® . In the first run, a total of 85,000 door hangers will be distributed across Orange County. 
 
 
Click here to read the full story
2017 OC Water Summit Set for June at Disney Grand Californian
The 2017 OC Water Summit will return to the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disney Resort in Anaheim.
The event will be held on June 16.

The upcoming Summit will be the 10th production by the Municipal Water District of Orange County and Orange County Water District. Past events have drawn more than 300 water professionals, industry officials and civic and business leaders.

The theme for the 2017 Summit has yet to be decided, but Disney is again donating the talents and services of the organization's renown creative team, so it promises to be a blockbuster!

Follow the Orange County Water Summit on Facebook for the latest information. 
 
Supervisor Bartlett, Water Agencies Team for South County Water Expo

Joel Harper, author of the popular children's book "All the Way to the Ocean," will be among the speakers and attractions at the South County Water Conservation Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 1 at the Norman P. Murray community center in Mission Viejo.

The event, spearheaded by 5th District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, includes demonstrations and displays on water efficiency from South County water agencies and the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) as well as hands-on activities for children and speakers such as Harper.

Other presentations include an update on the Advanced Purified Water project for Lake Mission Viejo, "smartscape" landscaping by OC Coastkeeper and an educational, child-friendly program from the Discovery Science Foundation.

Trabuco Canyon Water will show how water is recycled, and El Toro Water District will bring out its emergency water-supply trailer.

Ricki the Raindrop, MWDOC's rambunctious spokesdrop, is also scheduled to appear. For those who work up an appetite, a variety of f ood trucks will be on hand. 

Norman P. Murray Center is at  24932 Veterans Way in Mission Viejo.

Calendar of Events
Upcoming Meetings/Events

September 19:
Public Affairs and Legislation Committee Meeting

September 21:
Regular Board Meeting
 
September 22:
Executive Committee Meeting
 
October 3:
Planning & Operations Committee Meeting
 
October 5:
Workshop Board Meeting
 
October 12:
Administration & Finance Committee Meeting

All meetings are at MWDOC, 18700 Ward Ave., Fountain Valley.  For information on MWDOC meetings and events, please click on the calendar icon above.

Kudos
Have something to share? Let us know!
Water Agencies Ready for Clean Up, Other Community Activities

September 17 will be a busy day for water agencies and departments across Orange County, as many participate in Coastal or Inner Coastal Cleanup Day and other community events.
 
Ricki the Rambunctious Raindrop and other staff from the Municipal Water District of Orange County will be near Tower 8 at Huntington State Beach on Saturday for the OC CoastKeeper Coastal Cleanup Day. The beach cleanup is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Afterward is a water education celebration featuring the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center.

Brea, Irvine, Newport Beach, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano are also hosting cleanup events. 

El Toro Water District staff, meanwhile, will be at the Lake Forest Community Carnival on Saturday.


Mesa Water Hits 3 Years Without Serious Injury

Mesa Water takes safety seriously and has invested time and resources into its Environmental, Health and Safety Program to increase awareness, training and implementation of best safety practices in the office and in the field.
 

Santa Margarita Advanced Water Plant Nearly Ready; Solar Projects Online

On October 10, Lake Mission Viejo will become the first swimming lake in California to use advanced purified water instead of drinking water for supplemental lake refill - saving 114 million gallons of drinking water each year. 
 

East OC Water Takes On Wastewater Operations

The East Orange County Water District (EOCWD) completed a transfer of ownership and operation of the local sewer system in East Orange, North Tustin and parts of Santa Ana from the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) on August 1.
   

Municipal Water District of Orange County
Phone: (714) 963-3058 | Fax: (714) 964-9389 | mwdoc.com | Forward to a Friend

Sign-Up to receive eCurrents
Copyright © 2013. MWDOC. All Rights Reserved