Key topics include:

• Planning for the next century of water reliability
• The true cost of aging infrastructure
• Preparing for climate whiplash on the Colorado River
• Why major projects aren’t the biggest drivers of water bills
• Balancing affordability with necessary investments

Can Metropolitan invest enough to maintain system reliability while keeping water affordable and trusted? Tune in to hear water leaders address this critical question.

The Southern California Water Coalition educates to advocate. Be part of the conversation. Be part of the solution.

If you like this episode, you may also enjoy What Matters Water TV + Podcast Episode 24, titled Why Does It Take So Long to Build a Water Project, or Episode #8, titled What’s Next for Metropolitan Water District. You can also view photos from the January 23, 2026 luncheon on Flickr HERE, or read our blog post HERE.

The post #27 – Is Your Tap Water Too Cheap? appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

The Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC) kicked off 2026 with a landmark event on Friday, January 23rd, bringing together key leaders for a critical conversation on the future of our region’s water. The event, held at the iconic Santa Anita Park, drew an impressive crowd of 320 people, all eager to hear from the newly appointed leadership at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).

The main event featured the first-ever joint appearance of Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Board Chair Adan Ortega, Jr., and the district’s new General Manager, Shivaji Deshmukh. Moderated by SCWC’s own Executive Director and CEO, Charley Wilson, the panel provided invaluable insight into the new leadership’s shared vision for a resilient and reliable water future. This important conversation will be published online as a future episode of What Matters Water TV and Podcast, so stay tuned!

But the day was more than just a panel discussion. It was a full-day affair that included:

• An SCWC Board meeting to kick off the day’s events.
• An exclusive VIP tour of the historic Santa Anita Park, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary racetrack.
• A touch of fun and excitement with the first race of the day being named the “SoCal Water Race for Resilience,” where attendees had the chance to cheer on the horses and take some memorable photos.

This important luncheon was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Parsons, and to Michael Drennan from Parsons for delivering the opening introduction. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our additional sponsors: Burbank Water and Power, Crescenta Valley Water District, Glendale Water and Power, Kiewit, Pasadena Water and Power, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority.

The energy and engagement throughout the day were palpable, reflecting the collective commitment to collaboration and innovation in the water sector. We extend our sincere thanks to our esteemed panelists, all our members, and the 320 attendees who joined us for this important and memorable event. We look forward to continuing the conversation and working together to build a sustainable water future for all.

View a larger gallery of event photos on Flickr HERE. 

 

The post SCWC Hosts Landmark Conversation with New MWD Leadership at Santa Anita Park appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

The Southern California Water Coalition is excited to announce its first quarterly meeting of 2026, scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

Speakers are Adán Ortega, Jr., Metropolitan Water District Board Chair, and Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager of Metropolitan Water District. They will talk about what is next for Metropolitan Water District.

This meeting is an essential platform for policymakers, environmental experts, water industry professionals, and community leaders. Anyone passionate about contributing to the future of water in California will find this event both enlightening and vital for networking and idea-sharing.

Ticket Information

Presenting Sponsor

Parsons

Event Sponsors

• Burbank Water and Power
• Crescenta Valley Water District
• Glendale Water and Power
• Pasadena Water and Power
• Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
• Three Valleys Municipal Water District
• San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority

Founding Sponsors

The post Join Us for Our First Meeting of 2026 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

This robust endorsement is a testament to the strong advocacy and active participation of our diverse community members and interests. The commitment of those who sent letters and spoke at hearings was crucial, with 36 speakers advocating for the DCP during these pivotal discussions, compared to just 15 opposed, highlighting our community’s dedication to securing a sustainable water future.

Charley Wilson, Executive Director of the Southern California Water Coalition, expressed his appreciation and optimism: “Embracing a ‘no regrets’ approach to the Delta Conveyance project embodies visionary foresight—securing a sustainable and resilient water future for California with this decision. This project is essential for preparing us for the future.”

The Delta Conveyance Project is crucial as climate change impacts our water supply. It enhances our ability to capture storm water for use during drier periods and reduces the risk of catastrophic damage to the Delta’s fragile levees from earthquakes.

Why Delta Conveyance Matters:

• Reliability: The State Water Project supplies nearly 30% of Southern California’s water. Without upgrades, this aging system is at risk from earthquakes, sea-level rise, and subsidence.
• Cost-Effectiveness: According to economic studies, the Delta Conveyance Project is a more affordable solution than alternatives like desalination or additional recycling initiatives.
• Flexibility: The State Water Project enables essential local projects like groundwater recharge and recycled water programs, serving as a backbone for our water supply portfolio.

As we celebrate this historic moment, we remain committed to keeping you informed and engaged in the ongoing progress of the Delta Conveyance Project. Together, we are making strides towards a more secure and sustainable water future for all Californians.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this crucial project. Your involvement is essential as we continue to advocate for reliable and resilient water infrastructure in our state.

The post Victory for Water Security: MWD Board Supports Delta Conveyance Project appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

Imagine your home – the pipes are old, the roof is leaking, and the foundation is cracking. You could walk away, start from scratch, or invest in repairs and upgrades to keep your home livable and valuable. This is the crossroads we face with our water infrastructure in Southern California.

For 40 years, the Southern California Water Coalition has been fighting for a water-resilient future. Today, we’re calling on all Southern Californians to join us in pushing for an “All-of-the-Above” strategy – a powerful combo of modernizing our state’s water system, water recycling, conservation, stormwater capture, and desalination.

Why Delta Conveyance Matters

The State Water Project is the backbone of Southern California’s water supply portfolio. Think of it as the main pipe bringing water to your home. We need to upgrade and invest in this critical infrastructure to keep the water flowing reliably. By doing so, we’ll secure a vital component of our water supply for future generations. The Delta Conveyance Project brings critical updates to this water system depended on by 27 million Californians.

The State Water Project is the MVP of our water infrastructure. It stores water in wet years, supports recycling projects, and enables groundwater recharge. Investing in the State Water Project and Delta Conveyance doesn’t just fix our infrastructure; it supercharges our alternative water strategies.

Right now, we don’t have all the facts to make informed decisions about the Delta Conveyance Project. We need to complete vital studies and evaluations to understand the true costs and benefits. This knowledge will empower our communities to make smart choices about our water resilience future.

Affordability: The Elephant in the Room

Let’s talk money. Enhancing our water supply and keeping it affordable means investing in both the State Water Project and local water supplies. If rate increases are needed to fund these critical studies, we’re all in. Our coalition is committed to keeping Southern Californians informed about the water issues we face and fighting for a reliable, affordable water supply.

Collaboration: Our Secret Weapon

At the Southern California Water Coalition, we believe in the power of “we” over “me.” Litigation isn’t the answer to our water challenges. We’ve spent decades bringing people together, finding common ground, and driving progress. Together, we can tackle any obstacle and secure our water future.

The Time to Act is Now

We’re at a make-or-break moment. We must push forward and invest in completing these crucial studies and evaluations. The next time this issue comes before the MWD Board, they need to have all the information to make informed decisions about our water future.

The post Delta Conveyance: It’s Time for Infrastructure Investment appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

“A lot of the decisions we made in the past were based on historic data and that worked for us,” said Liz Crosson, Metropolitan’s first chief sustainability, resiliency and innovation officer. “With the unpredictability of climate change and our hydrology today, we need to incorporate this evolving forward-looking, climate-forecasting science and try to better anticipate what the future will look like as opposed to making decisions based on the past.”

Liz Crosson, MWD’s Chief Sustainability Resiliency and Innovation Officer

Crosson, who joined the district in March 2022, leads Metropolitan’s aggressive agenda and plan to reduce its carbon footprint and strengthen its resiliency to climate change. Metropolitan serves 26 public water agencies — cities, municipal water districts and one county water authority — that then deliver supplies directly or indirectly to people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

“While ensuring a reliable water supply for 19 million Southern Californians is the core of our mission, we can’t achieve that mission without innovation and environmental sustainability,” said Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil. “Liz Crosson brings significant leadership experience and knowledge to Metropolitan that will help us confront the many environmental and infrastructure challenges we’re facing due to our rapidly changing climate.”

Before coming to Metropolitan, Crosson represented Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on water and climate issues, most recently as his director of infrastructure. She is also an adjunct instructor in urban sustainability at USC Price School of Public Policy. She spoke recently about her role and Metropolitan’s priorities to ensure water reliability for future generations.

As Metropolitan’s first SRI officer how do you define success in this new role?

Sustainability, resilience and innovation are not new to Metropolitan, but creating this office is really about integrating these initiatives and elevating them in a way that showcases the leadership within Metropolitan. It is an opportunity to provide this connective tissue between all our departments and create this umbrella of sustainability in everything that we do.

Metropolitan supplies water to 19 million Southern Californians and also preserves habitats around reservoirs such as Copper Basin that support wildlife such as this red-tailed hawk.

How does climate change challenge the water agency?

I think water agencies have been very successful in adapting to drought cycles. We’ve worked really hard to build our systems to adapt to dry periods of the past. What we’re seeing now is challenging us in a new way. Not only are those droughts longer and more severe, like the ones we’ve seen in the last decade, but we’re now seeing this whiplash effect between extreme dry and wet years that makes water management much more difficult. We need to adapt to these changing conditions accordingly. We need to also think about the impacts of hotter temperatures on the amount of runoff we can expect and when we can expect that runoff. Wildfires also impact some of our source watersheds and the subsequent runoff of sediment can impact water quality downstream. These cascading impacts are demanding our attention right now. We are taking a holistic look at those climate risks so we can adapt our programs, investments, operations and our infrastructure.

Homeowners can conserve with drought-tolerant landscaping, shown above.

At the request of the Board of Directors, Metropolitan is creating a Climate Adaptation Master Plan. What are the top three goals in this process?

First, we need an inclusive process that builds a common understanding between our board, staff and member agencies. Metropolitan is committed to reliability and equity among our agencies, so it is imperative that we build this system resilience together.

Second, we need to develop objective criteria to evaluate how we’re going to adapt to this changing climate. The criteria will include resilience for our system, affordability for our customers and financial sustainability for the region.

Third, we need near-term, no regrets projects to immediately improve the flexibility and connectivity of our water system and produce additional efficiency as a region. The Climate Adaptation Master Plan is a long-range plan, but we need to come away with some immediate projects, particularly those that help to increase water supply reliability for our State Water Project dependent areas.  These areas were more vulnerable during the recent California drought because, due to limitations in our distribution system, we were only able to deliver them water from the State Water Project, which was in very limited supply. The nearly 7 million people who live in these areas experienced shortages and emergency water conservation measures in 2022 and early 2023. So, connecting that area to other sources of water is a priority so that we don’t have this issue during future dry periods when our SWP supplies are extremely limited.

Another big piece is doing everything we can in terms of conservation and efficiency. That is always going to be our most affordable option to secure our water supplies. The region has already done really well on water conservation and efficiency, so it’s just figuring out any additional opportunities and what the gaps are. We have to embrace conservation as our way of life whether it’s raining or it’s not.

Copper Basin

What’s the role of technology and innovation in climate adaptation?

Innovation is so exciting right now. What we’re facing in terms of climate change is really inspiring a lot of innovators to look for new ways to track and measure our water use, to eliminate waste, to sequester carbon and to track our greenhouse gas emissions. There is also a lot of innovation in the energy sector. As a large water wholesaler, about 90 percent of our emissions are from electricity use alone, so we’re looking at many ways to use renewable energy. There are a lot of unique opportunities around this water-energy nexus and ways we can be more sustainable overall.

As a water provider how do you balance affordability and sustainability?

I really think affordability and sustainability go hand in hand. Sustainability is all about ensuring what we do and use today doesn’t take away from future generations. So, many of the actions that we take under that sustainability umbrella are actually about reducing waste, using resources more efficiently, and considering the full life-cycle costs and benefits of our actions. A sustainable solution can be affordable when you look at its value over the span of its life cycle.

Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California

Metropolitan has a long history of habitat preservation. What are some of the initiatives happening now?

Metropolitan has helped preserve over 30,000 acres of habitat. For example, I recently visited the reserve near Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet and the wildflowers are incredible. This kind of wildlife and habitat preservation also provides a great space for local communities, where people can experience nature first hand.

Metropolitan also purchased four islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Delta sits at the hub of the distribution system bringing water from the northern Sierra, south to Southern California and its health is critical to the reliability of our water supply. We’re looking at opportunities to restore these historic wetlands to preserve  habitat and wildlife and also protect the fresh water corridor within the Delta. There is a lot of subsidence in the Delta and we’re seeing some pretty severe sinking of those islands that can impact water quality and cause other issues. We’re protecting both the habitats and the fresh water corridors we rely on.

Learn more about California Water Magazine.

Watch or listen to our What Matters Water TV + Podcast about “What’s Next for Metropolitan Water District” and featuring Liz Crosson.

The post Metropolitan Adapting to Climate Change to Secure Southern California’s Water Supplies appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

The light-colored ring around Lake Mead shows the decreased water level from years of drought conditions on the Colorado River. The photo was taken on Feb. 16. The reservoir was formed by Hoover Dam and is considered one of the largest artificial lakes in the world with 750 miles of shoreline. The lake helps provide water for 25 million people in Nevada, Arizona, and California. The historic water shortage on the Colorado River will likely lead to mandatory water cutbacks. Photo Courtesy of the United States Bureau of Reclamation

You don’t need to be a fortune teller to predict what the future may hold for water availability in Southern California next year. The region’s limited imported supplies will prompt water officials to consider region-wide mandatory conservation measures should the ongoing drought continue.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s six-county service area normally relies on supplies from Northern California and the Colorado River to cover more than half of the region’s water demands. The ongoing drought has reduced supplies from Northern California over the last three years to historic low levels. And the Colorado River is facing its first-ever shortage condition, with a call by federal officials for river users to prepare for deeper cuts next year.

In response, Metropolitan staff has informed its Board of Directors that it is preparing ways to implement mandatory conservation across Southern California, if necessary. The board could consider actions as early as January.

“We need to prepare for this drought to continue,” said Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil. “Even if the rains return, it will take a lot for the State Water Project system to recover, and the Colorado River will remain in a historic shortage condition. A region-wide response may prove necessary.”

Portions of the Metropolitan service area are already facing various mandatory conservation measures because constraints in Metropolitan’s distribution system and limited local supplies make them heavily dependent on extremely limited water deliveries from Northern California. Three consecutive years of low supplies from the State Water Project prompted Metropolitan to direct numerous local agencies starting last June to reduce demand. Those agencies are in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties, affecting six million people.

“We are working closely with these local agencies to manage through this challenge and develop plans to fast-track lasting solutions,” Hagekhalil said. “Even with these efforts, supplies will be limited until the State Water Project can deliver more water.”

While Southern California’s water challenges during this drought have most affected these areas, the worsening shortage on the Colorado River from a decades-long drought could prompt region-wide mandatory conservation as early as next year.

The federal Bureau of Reclamation declared the first-ever shortage condition for the river in August 2021. With storage levels continuing to decrease, Reclamation recently announced that additional cuts would be necessary in 2023. Those cuts have yet to be identified while Metropolitan continues to work with other water users in California, Arizona, and Nevada to negotiate a collaborative response.

In addition to pulling from its local reservoirs, Metropolitan has operated its Colorado River Aqueduct at nearly its full capacity to meet the region’s demands this year. In future years, that might not be possible.

Metropolitan staff informed the board earlier this summer that it would develop a plan to enforce mandatory conservation on its 26 member agencies next year, taking into account unique local circumstances. “We are planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Hagekhalil said. “In the meantime, everyone can do their part by never wasting a drop of water.”

Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil speaks at a news conference about water restrictions. He is flanked by the Metropolitan Board Chairwoman Gloria D. Gray, left, and Chief Operating Officer Deven Upadhyay.

Although all eyes are on water availability in 2023, Hagekhalil added that the region also must plan for the future and address climate change by increasing supply resiliency through infrastructure investments. “All options must be in our resource mix, from imported supplies, conservation, and recycling to local stormwater capture, recharging and remediating ground water basins and building storage. We also must improve our regional water system to move water across our service area to equitably meet future demands,” he said.

For more conservation tips, visit www.bewaterwise.com

Check out related What Matters Water TV and Podcast episodes to learn more:

• Episode #9 “A Collaborative Approach to Colorado River Management“
• Episode #8 “What’s Next for Metropolitan Water District” 
• Episode #1 “Interview with Adel Hagekhalil, GM of Metropolitan Water District”

At left, an aerial view of the South Fork of Lake Oroville in Butte County on Aug. 2. On this date, the storage was 1,440,432 reservoir acre-feet (AF), which is 41 percent of the total capacity. Lake Oroville is the largest reservoir in the State Water Project and it peaked this year at just over half its capacity. Above, 

The post Region-Wide Mandatory Water Conservation Possible in 2023 appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

We’re excited to share with you this important panel discussion on the collaborative approach to Colorado River management being taken by California water, tribal and community leaders.

On this special episode of What Matters Water TV + Podcast, our expert panel will talk about what is causing the crisis, how it’s affecting our state and others, and most importantly, what can be done to prevent it from getting worse. So please join us as we explore this important issue. 

Guests on this episode are Michael Cohen, Senior Associate, Pacific Institute; Adel Hagekhalil, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Chris Harris, Executive Director, Colorado River Board of California; Sandy Kerl, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority; Henry Martinez, General Manager, Imperial Irrigation District; David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner – Operations, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; and Thomas Tortez, Jr., Tribal Chairman, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.

View the slides that Chris Harris uses to introduce the water supply issues on the Colorado River at this link: https://socalwater.org/wp-content/uploads/Chris-Harris-SCWC-Intro-Slides_DRAFT_10062022.pdf 

The post #9 – A Collaborative Approach to Colorado River Management appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California was founded in 1928 under an act of the California Legislature to build and operate the Colorado River Aqueduct. Today Metropolitan  delivers water from the Colorado River and Northern California to its 26 member water agencies that serve 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

Metropolitan has also taken significant steps over the past three decades to reduce the region’s reliance on imported water – investing more than $1.5 billion in conservation and local resources. But climate change and the state’s ongoing record drought are reminders that more needs to be done.

The individuals heading up three of Metropolitan’s big initiatives to further the One Water concept while improving the agency’s culture are here with us today to discuss what they see on the horizon. Guests on this episode are: Water Resources Manager Brad Coffey, who is the lead on Metropolitan’s Pure Water Initiative; Liz Crosson, who is MWD’s Chief Sustainability, Resiliency and Innovation Officer, and Liji Thomas, who is MWD Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.

The post #8 – What’s Next for Metropolitan Water District appeared first on Southern California Water Coalition.

Participants include: Southern California Water Coalition, Rebuild SoCal Partnership, SCV Water, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Mojave Water Agency, Industrial Environmental Association, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, Orange County Business Journal, BizFed, Southern California Leadership Council, Engineering Contractors Association, Inland Empire Economic Partnership.

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