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As the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) celebrates its 75th Anniversary, this edition of eCurrents spotlights the people, programs, and ideas driving our work forward.
Our MWDOC FACES: 75 Years of Service video series honors some of the individuals who have shaped our legacy and continue to inspire our future. In this issue, you'll also find practical earthquake preparedness tips, sustainability stories highlighting how trees support healthier, water-wise communities, and a look at MWDOC's pilot Student Career Day, which connected students with opportunities in the water industry.
Additionally, a recent feature article in Municipal Water Leader examines how MWDOC is advancing a reliable water future through regional collaboration, innovation, and long-term planning.
Together, these stories reflect our ongoing commitment to service, reliability, and strong regional partnerships. We welcome your ideas for future topics at info@mwdoc.com.
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........BOARD OF DIRECTORS........
| MWDOC is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, who are elected by the public to represent a specific portion of Orange County. | ........MEETINGS CALENDAR........ | | |
TREE BENEFITS: SHADE, SAVINGS, & SUSTAINABILITY
Cristal Castro, Water Use Efficiency Program Analyst I, MWDOC
Trees improve our lives while helping us use water efficiently and cool our neighborhoods. They improve environmental health by filtering air and water pollutants, reducing stormwater runoff, and creating habitats that support local biodiversity. Participants of MWDOC’s Turf Replacement Rebate Program, which incentivizes converting lawn grass to OC Friendly gardens, can receive an additional $100 for each tree planted in their garden, up to five trees.
Learn more about trees and how they play an important role in the water cycle!
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5 LESSONS LEARNED!
from Our Pilot Student Career Day
Sarah Wilson, Education & Workforce Development Supervisor, MWDOC
What happens when students step into real-world water careers for a day? See how hands-on learning helped Villa Park High School students discover where they fit in the water industry.
Read the lessons learned while reflecting on the experience!
| | MWDOC 75TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO SPOTLIGHT | |
75 YEARS OF SERVICE
Video Series
MWDOC FACES: 75 Years of Service video series celebrates the people behind MWDOC’s ongoing legacy of service. As we mark our 75th Anniversary, this campaign highlights current and former staff and directors who are sharing their personal experiences, insights, and commitment to public service. Through their voices and perspectives, we recognize the individuals whose work continues to shape our organization and support the communities we serve.
Watch the video!
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EARTH DAY CLEANUP
Saturday, April 18 | 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to our coast! To protect local waterways, volunteers are invited to roll up their sleeves and help remove trash at the Earth Day Cleanup at Huntington Beach. This community cleanup is organized by OC Coastkeeper in partnership with the Orange County Conservation Corps.
MWDOC will host an information booth where attendees can learn about water conservation and litter sorting. Stop by our booth and get some sustainable giveaways!
Register today and help with the cleanup!
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SMWD WATER FESTIVAL
Saturday, May 16 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) for the return of its popular Water Festival, a free community celebration of water, wildlife, and sustainability!
This family-friendly event invites residents to stroll through the beautiful WaterWorks Garden, talk with water experts, explore district trucks and equipment, and participate in hands-on activities.
With festive music, bubbles, stilt walkers, and photo opportunities with Ricky the Rambunctious Raindrop℠, the Water Festival offers a fun and engaging way for the community to learn about conservation and environmental stewardship.
Learn more about the Water Festival!
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WEEA LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE #23
Thursday, May 21 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where partnerships power the pipeline.
Join WEEA for Leadership Roundtable #23, featuring a Sponsor Spotlight with Metropolitan, the nation’s largest water wholesaler. This session will highlight how Metropolitan’s Education and Workforce Development teams are aligning efforts from early education through career pathways, and why that alignment matters for building a stronger talent pipeline.
Reserve your seat for Roundtable #23. Click here for event details!
Register today!
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REAL PEOPLE, REAL SAVINGS
An HOA in Irvine
The Canyon Creek HOA in Irvine transformed 3,717 sq. ft. of grass into beautiful, OC-friendly landscaping, boosting sustainability while enhancing community space through MWDOC’s Turf Replacement Rebate Program. This project features over 500 OC friendly plants, nine California native Coast Live Oak trees, and is expected to save 163k gallons of water annually. These iconic California trees provide habitat, shade, and long-term climate resilience.
Learn more about this project. If you’re interested in learning how to save money while you transform your landscape, connect with our team. Email turfremoval@mwdoc.com.
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PLANNING A POSITIVE WATER FUTURE FOR ORANGE COUNTY
Municipal Water Leader Feature
MWDOC’s General Manager, Harvey De La Torre, was featured in April’s Municipal Water Leader magazine. The conversation explores how MWDOC balances its role within Metropolitan alongside its close collaboration with local agencies. Key themes include ensuring water reliability, navigating regulations, advancing conservation, and leveraging technology to solve complex challenges.
Read the feature here.
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FILLING IN THE FUTURE, ONE EPISODE AT A TIME
Student-Led Podcast
The future isn’t waiting for its turn. It started a podcast.
Follow Orange County high school students Maya and Sophia as they invite professionals to share honest insights on pathways and purpose through their peer-to-peer podcast, Filling in the Future. In a recent episode, MWDOC’s Education & Workforce Development Manager shares her path into the water industry and offers her perspective on networking and mentorship.
Tune in to the episode!
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WHERE LEARNING MEETS LIVELIHOOD
Ten Strands Featured Story
This is where learning meets livelihood.
MWDOC’s Education & Workforce Development Manager shares how environmental literacy connects education, workforce, and community systems. Drawing on the evolution of WEEA, the article shows how early awareness, partnerships, and hands-on learning create pathways into water careers.
Read the full story!
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DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND CAREER EVENT
Tuesday, February 24
This wasn’t just a film screening. It got the pipeline flowing.
A career workshop paired with an exclusive pre-release of Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong at Santiago Canyon College drew more than 100 attendees, evenly split between students and water professionals. Cohosted by WEEA, the event was made free through sponsorship by WEEA, MWDOC, Yorba Linda Water District, and Moulton Niguel Water District, expanding student access to industry opportunities. The film sparked conversations about careers, certifications, and pathways, showing that out-of-the-box events don’t just fill seats, they help fill the pipeline.
Stay in the loop and join WEEA's email list!
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WALK 4 WATER
Saturday, March 21
MWDOC supported efforts to raise awareness about the global need for safe, reliable drinking water at the Walk 4 Water event at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley. Hosting an informational booth, MWDOC shared water conservation resources and engaged with attendees about where their water comes from and how to protect this vital resource.
Learn more about MWDOC’s community outreach and invite us to your next community event!
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STATE WATER PROJECT & DELTA ISLANDS INSPECTION TRIP
March 27-28
MWDOC Director Randall Crane and the City of Santa Monica’s Director Mark Gold brought together a group of water industry professionals and regional decision-makers in March for an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the partnership and infrastructure that help deliver water across California. Facilitated by Metropolitan, the group had the opportunity to explore key systems, discuss future water storage opportunities, and learn about ongoing efforts to restore and protect Delta habitats. It was a unique chance to see firsthand the complexity and importance of securing a sustainable water future for all of California.
Learn more about water inspection trips hosted by Metropolitan.
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R.H. DANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JOGATHON
Friday, March 6
Ricky the Rambunctious RaindropSM teamed up with the South Coast Water District on Friday, March 6, 2026, to cheer on students at R.H. Dana Elementary School during their annual Jogathon event. With plenty of high-fives and waves, Ricky helped create a fun atmosphere to keep students motivated.
After their laps around the field, Ricky and the South Coast Water District team invited the children to stay hydrated with fresh drinking water. Events like these are an opportunity to highlight how clean, reliable water supports the building of healthy communities.
Invite Ricky to your next community event!
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Residents are recognizing MWDOC’s work! Our Water Loss Control team recently received kind words from a resident who shared:
“I just wanted to let you know I ran into Hugo on my street this afternoon. He was super friendly and took time to answer all my questions. I really appreciated it.”
Moments like this highlight the impact of MWDOC’s acoustic Leak Detection program not just in finding hidden leaks and protecting infrastructure, but in building trust with the communities we serve.
Thank you to our Water Loss Control crew and all MWDOC staff who engage with the public and support our member agencies every day. Your work makes a difference.
Learn more about MWDOC’s Water Loss Control Programs.
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INSTAGRAM, MARCH 17
It’s Fix A Leak Week! Have a leaky faucet? A leaky faucet may not seem like a big deal, but those little drips can add up fast.
Take a few minutes to check your faucets, showerheads, and pipes for leaks. Most faucet leaks can be fixed quickly with a simple repair.
Fix a Leak Week, promoted by the EPA's WaterSense program, is a time to hunt down leaks and repair them. Find it. Fix it. Save water.
Looking for leak detecting tips? Visit www.mwdoc.com/fixaleak
| | Earth Day is a reminder that preserving our water supply is essential to a healthy environment and sustainable future. | | What do you think makes the biggest difference for protecting our water? | | | | | | |
