10 weeks. That’s about how long engineering interns Alondra Ambrocio , Luis Contreras , and Ricardo Melgar have been at Metropolitan. But in that time, they’ve become immersed in many activities – visiting field sites to see pipe corrosion, touring water treatment plants to learn about ozone system operations, measuring soil acidity levels, designing 3-D print projects and doing research work.

They and 10 others are part of a summer internship program funded by Human Resources through the Hire LA’s Youth Summer Program, part of Mayor Garcetti’s goal to hire 20,000 young people by 2020.

For these interns, a highlight of the program is learning from Metropolitan staff. Luis explains “At meetings, I ask a ton of questions because I don’t want to regret not doing something.” Alondra and Ricardo were really impressed when a staff member offered to meet them at a field site to show them first-hand the answers to their questions.

This is the students' first internship. “It’s one thing to take engineering classes - but I'm getting experience I could never get at school,” said Alondra, an engineering major at CSU Long Beach. Ricardo attends East Los Angeles College and hopes to be a mechanical engineer. For Luis, a student at CSU Los Angeles, “Working with professionals has given me a much better understanding of all that engineers do.”

We wish all our interns the very best in their future endeavors! 

Fans attending the Dodgers-Padres game this Friday, August 24 will learn all about water conservation and rebates. That's because it’s BeWaterWise night at Dodger stadium, sponsored by Metropolitan.

Metropolitan will be front and center with its new “365 Save Water Every Day” campaign, including throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and with advertising and promotions throughout the stadium and on social media.

The “Groundskeeper of the Game” will be recognized during pregame ceremonies as a way to celebrate water conservation at the stadium. The Dodgers have installed drought-resistant landscaping throughout the property and moisture sensors on the field.

Met staff will host a booth at the stadium to answer questions and promote water conservation rebates.

Next month, the Dodgers' focus on water conservation continues. Metropolitan will be featured at the Viva Los Dodgers event which celebrates Latino culture and the legacy of Latin American Dodgers - past and present - at a family-friendly pregame festival on Saturday, September 22.

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CONGRATULATIONS to Cristine Snyder , a WSO team manager at Jensen and Terry Clemens , a team manager in Engineering Services at La Verne who won Dodgers tickets in our latest water conservation contest.

Alex Martinez is part of the team that ensures the Eagle Mountain Pumping Plant, a vital part of Metropolitan's Colorado River Aqueduct system, is always running well. It’s an essential job that Alex enjoys -- and working at Metropolitan also enables him to pursue his passion as an artist.

“Working here has allowed me to do my art,” the O&M Tech III said. “I’ve got the best of both worlds.”

Five years ago, Martinez was studying art at CSU Long Beach. When his father encouraged him to apply for Metropolitan’s apprenticeship program, he saw it as his chance to learn a new trade. “I knew I couldn’t support myself as a full-time artist,” Martinez said.

When he's not working, Alex sketches illustrations for his comic book or creates tattoo designs for friends. The desert work schedule allows him to spend more time on his art.

For years, he has kept his art separate from work, but one day he hopes his visual storytelling can be of help at work. He remembers when he first became an apprentice how challenging it was to learn how each piece of equipment works. Martinez started drawing some of the pieces of equipment in hopes of turning them into an infographic that could be included in training activities.

As he sees it, one of his jobs as a journeyman is to make sure those who come after him succeed. Plus, as Martinez sees it, he’s an artist no matter where he works.