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WATER PROFESSIONALS APPRECIATION WEEK
October 4-12, 2025
Water Professionals Appreciation Week honors the vital role of water industry professionals. From engineers to water use efficiency analysts to emergency response specialists, MWDOC staff collaborate with Orange County water providers to ensure safe, clean, and reliable water. Follow our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn this week as we highlight some of our amazing staff and their stories.
Contact our staff if you have any questions about water!
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7 KEY POINTS!
To Build the Next Wave of Talent
Tiffany Baca, Education & Workforce Manager, MWDOC and Executive Director, WEEA
The future of water will be shaped by those who act now. Behind every drop is a workforce that safeguards health, powers economies, and sustains the environment. Investing in today’s talent ensures we can meet urgent challenges, spark innovation, and create a resilient, water-secure future. The future doesn’t have to be left up to chance. Together, we can design it.
Read more about building the next wave of talent!
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4 AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
10 Years of Water Loss Control Technical Assistance
Melissa Buendia, Public Affairs Specialist, MWDOC
MWDOC is celebrating 10 years of making a lasting impact on Orange County's water supply resiliency through its Water Loss Control programs! The program has empowered local agencies with expert, data-driven guidance to enhance efficiency, meet state regulations, and ultimately, reduce water loss. It has been a game-changer in helping agencies optimize water distribution and save costs.
Learn how MWDOC is reducing water loss throughout Orange County.
| | EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT | |
OPENING DOORS FOR NEXTGEN TALENT
2025 OC Water Summit
The next wave of rising talent made a splash at this year’s OC Water Summit! The Water Energy Education Alliance (WEEA), with support from the National Society of Black Engineers and Tomorrow’s Talent, proudly provided 14 NextGen Workforce students with invaluable real-world networking experience and direct exposure to high-impact careers in water.
From engineering and social ecology to water treatment and distribution, these emerging professionals practiced real-world networking skills with nearly 300 potential employers. One student reflected, “It was eye-opening. I learned where my area of engineering fits in the water industry and how important that contribution could be.”
On LinkedIn, meet the students who will shape tomorrow’s water future!
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TEACHERS TURNING THE TIDE
2025 CEEF Teacher Institute
Teachers have the power to turn the tide for water’s future. At the California Environmental Education Foundation’s Teacher Institute, MWDOC and WEEA joined partners to equip educators with hands-on tools to bring water efficiency, sustainability, climate connections, and career exploration into the classroom. By practicing activities like campus water audits and community mapping, these educators will multiply their impact, reaching hundreds of students and inspiring habits that keep our communities safe, healthy, and thriving for generations to come.
Learn more about MWDOC’s education initiatives.
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REAL PEOPLE, REAL SAVINGS
City of Huntington Beach
A local yard, a big impact! One Huntington Beach resident got paid to transform 230 sq. ft. of grass into a native garden through MWDOC’s Turf Replacement Rebate Program. With drip irrigation replacing traditional sprinklers, this project is expected to save 10.9k gallons of water annually.
Explore this garden transformation and spark ideas for your own yard!
Start saving with our water-smart rebates!
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10TH ANNUAL WATER SOLUTIONS EVENT
Tuesday, August 26
Director Megan Yoo Schneider, Ed.D., P.E. spoke at Sustain Southern California’s 10th Water Solutions event on August 26, held at UCI Beall Applied Innovation. She took part in the panel Doheny Desal – Community Resource Collaboration and Diversification, along with representatives from South Coast Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and GHD.
The event examined solutions in reuse, recycling, distribution, anti-contamination efforts, including PFAS mitigation, stormwater capture, hydrogen power, desalination, and more.
Book a speaker for your next event or meeting.
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YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, October 4
Ricky RaindropSM made a splash at Yorba Linda Water District’s Open House last weekend. The community event featured exciting department demonstrations, vehicle displays, water treatment plant tours, landscape workshops, and more!
Ricky joined in the fun while helping to showcase the water district’s commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable drinking water to residents.
Learn more about Ricky the Rambunctious RaindropSM!
| | It’s Water Professionals Appreciation Week! From building to planning, it takes many skills to keep our water flowing. | |
| Which water career would you enjoy most? | | | | | | |
It's #NationalPreparednessMonth! Administered by MWDOC, the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC) coordinates emergency preparedness, training, and response across Orange County water and wastewater agencies. Plus, the updated Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan strengthens our region’s resilience and keeps FEMA funding flowing.
Find out more about WEROC.
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INSTAGRAM, AUGUST 3
Signaling a new era of collaboration, @MWDOC invited @SDCWA leadership, Board Chair Nick Serrano, Director Lois Fong-Sakai, and General Manager Dan Denham, to share insights into their current operations and initiatives. Regional partnerships like this help us plan for the future and open the door to new opportunities.
Learn more about your water supply.
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17th ANNUAL OC WATER SUMMIT
Turning the Valve: Abundance for Orange County
At this year's Summit, hundreds of water industry pros, elected officials, and community leaders gathered to tackle pressing supply challenges and policy hurdles. From watershed insights to workforce initiatives, it was a hub of actionable ideas for a sustainable future.
The event highlighted innovative strategies for water security, with sessions including Responding to PFAS: Balancing Protection, Policy, and Practicality; Is the State Prioritizing Abundant Water Supply?; Rethinking the Bay-Delta: Restoration with Benefits; and Getting Water on the Ballot.
Catch the 2025 OC Water Summit highlights.
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COASTAL CLEANUP
Saturday, September 20
Volunteers made waves for a cleaner future! MWDOC collaborated with the OC Coastkeeper to celebrate the California Coastal Commission's Coastal Cleanup Day by hosting an informational booth that helped the public understand how to sort trash and recycling. This event brings people together to clean creeks, rivers, lakes, and coastlines statewide, helping to restore our environment.
Discover ways that you can help save water.
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FACT-FINDING TRIP TO DENMARK
September 20-27
Experiencing the water sector abroad! Invited by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Assistant General Manager Melissa Baum-Haley and Water Loss Control Programs Manager Rachel Davis participated in a water distribution-focused event. They explored Denmark’s ongoing journey towards a sustainable water sector through the themes of water loss management and energy efficiency.
They reviewed state-of-the-art technical solutions and experienced how Danish utilities have embraced innovation. It was an amazing opportunity to showcase MWDOC’s Water Loss Control programs and strengthen MWDOC's professional network within the industry.
Learn more about our Water Loss Control Programs.
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