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APRIL 2026

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members,

Here I am, airborne and cruising at a cool 600+ mph toward Wisconsin for an advanced training workshop, and once again I’m struck by how incredibly fortunate we are to be in this industry together.

For me, these past 5.5 years have been a nonstop education sprint, fueled entirely by the immense generosity of colleagues who’ve shared their knowledge freely through WQA, PWQA, online groups, you name it. I literally wouldn’t be the professional I am today without all of you.

That’s exactly why, when I stepped into the President role, I became laser-focused on ramping up education and networking opportunities. And, I’m especially happy to report that our Board of Directors has fully bought into this agenda and has thus far stepped up to the plate with an extraordinary, above-and-beyond effort in these pursuits.

So far, here’s what we’ve pulled off:

• Sent out a big poll to members, former members, and prospects to gauge what you truly value most. Early results are encouraging and confirm education is a huge priority.
• Locked in a formal partnership with national WQA so our new ongoing webinar series will be accredited and help members earn the CE credits they need to keep credentials current.
• Took a hard look at our scholarships, realized two $1,000 awards weren’t moving the needle anymore with today’s tuition costs, and set a bold new target of $5,000 total. Thanks to earmarked dues funds plus five generous member companies, we not only hit the goal for this year but crucially, we’ve started working on a sustainable plan to keep offering meaningful scholarships for years to come. And we’re now directing the entire benefit inward so it goes straight to an employee (or family member) of one of our member companies.
• Excited to announce our first Northern California in-person education + networking event this summer! We’re teaming up with PACE at their shiny new Rohnert Park headquarters for what promises to be a packed, fun, high-value day. Details coming soon - stay tuned!

That’s the update from way up here, flying high at 36,000 feet on a 74.0° heading, with member benefits soaring right alongside me. 

Have an awesome spring everyone!

Best regards,



ADRIAN CAVLAN

PWQA 2025-2026 President

WQA Certified Water Specialist, CST

CA C-55 Water Conditioning Contractor

Lic. #1116195

adriancavlan@gmail.com

PWQA SCHOLARSHIP NOW OPEN - APPLY NOW

We are excited to announce that the 2026 PWQA Scholarship is now open for application. PWQA Scholarship is awarded to individuals who are either employees of a Member Company in good standing or family members of a Member Company’s employee (spouse, child, grandchild). The 2026 Scholarship award of $5,000 is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Member Companies: SoCal Saltworks LLC, Pentair, Quality Water of Aptos, SoCal Water Solutions LLC and Water Techniques.  

The deadline for submission is May 29, 2026. To apply, please download the Scholarship Application Form below. Fill out and return it with all supporting materials to our office no later than May 29, 2026. Visit our website for more information. For questions, call the PWQA office at (626) 283-4464 or email info@pwqa.org.

PWQA LEGISLATIVE DAYS HIGHLIGHT

PWQA Capitol Day in Sacramento held on February 24-25 was a tremendous success!

14 members of the Pacific Water Quality Association and Water Quality Association came together to advocate for policies that support clean, safe water access across California.

From valuable policy discussions to 25 legislative meetings with lawmakers, the day highlighted the important role water treatment professionals play in protecting public health and water quality.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped move the conversation forward.

Key highlight below—take a second to check it out.

RANDY POLLACK'S UPDATE ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

The Governor’s budget proposes a significant reduction in SAFER funding—$130 million in 2025–26 and $92 million in 2026–27—raising serious concerns about the state’s ability to support safe and affordable drinking water. At the Assembly budget subcommittee hearing we attended, several members echoed these concerns and questioned the impact these cuts could have on vulnerable communities. We will continue to engage in the budget process and advocate for the preservation of these critical resources.

The Legislature is currently in the midst of policy committee hearings, with hundreds of bills moving through the process ahead of the April 24 deadline. This is a critical period for shaping policy outcomes that directly affect water systems and ratepayers across the state.

Among the measures we are actively tracking is SB 1125, which would provide much-needed funding to help make residential water services more affordable for low-income ratepayers. Ensuring equitable access to affordable water remains a top priority.

We are also closely following SB 1313, which would explicitly authorize the use of Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund resources for projects addressing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, consistent with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. This clarification is an important step toward addressing emerging contaminants and protecting public health.

For more information on these or other issues of concern, please contact Randy Pollack.

MEMBER HIGHLIGHT

WQA has announced its 2026 award winners. Congratulations to our PWQA members for their outstanding achievements across these categories!

HALL OF FAME

FRANCIS DESILVA

RESINTECH

Entering the Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed upon a WQA member. This award recognizes a lifetime of dedication and service to the water quality improvement industry and the association.

Francis J. DeSilva has spent more than 45 years in the water treatment industry and currently serves as Technical Consultant and Dean of ResinTech University at ResinTech Inc., where he has worked for over 36 years. He holds a Master of Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Technology from the Florida Institute of Technology, and has authored numerous articles and spoken widely on ion exchange and water treatment topics. A two-time past president of the Pacific Water Quality Association, Frank has long been a leader in the industry and currently serves on the AWWA Ion Exchange Standards Committee. His many contributions have been recognized with honors including the WQA Regents Award and Key Award, along with multiple PWQA leadership and service awards.

REGENTS AWARD

NORMA LARA

SOCAL WATER SOLUTIONS, LLC

Presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution at the state or local level in areas affecting the industry such as ethics, legislation, or educational efforts.

Norma Lara is a water quality professional and industry leader with nearly 30 years of hands-on experience and the Founder and President of SoCal Water Solutions, a company serving California communities for more than two decades. Known for her field-first leadership style, she has led efforts in system evaluation, performance verification, and compliance-driven implementation, while also supporting public health initiatives that improve access to safer drinking water. Norma is passionate about mentoring the next generation of water professionals and advancing standards across the industry. Through her service on national and regional water quality boards, she champions education, accountability, and practical solutions that create meaningful community impact.

AWARD OF MERIT

IRMA BISHOP, MWS

WICHITA WATER CONDITIONING INC. DBA HALL'S CULLIGAN WATER

This award recognizes exceptional service given to the water quality improvement industry.

Irma Bishop, MWS, is Chief Operating Officer at Hall’s Culligan, a company that has grown from a single dealership in Wichita, Kansas, to more than 45 locations nationwide. With over 11 years at the company, she has played a key role in supporting operations that serve customers across 12 states through strong local, corporate, and international resources. Irma has held leadership roles across the industry, including serving on the WQA Board of Directors and contributing to the Membership Committee, Women in Industry (WIN), and the Professional Certification Committee. She is also a past President of the Pacific Water Quality Association and has held leadership positions throughout her career, bringing a strong operational and strategic perspective to the water quality industry.

HONORARY MEMBER AWARD

RANDY POLLACK

WHITE BRENNER LLP

Given to an individual whose contributions to mankind, through research, education, or exemplary service related to water quality, are meritorious.

Randy Pollack is a seasoned government and regulatory affairs professional specializing in lobbying and strategic advocacy for businesses and trade associations in California. With experience in both the Governor’s Office and the Legislature, Randy brings a deep understanding of the state’s political and regulatory landscape. He has long represented the Water Quality Association and the Pacific Water Quality Association, leading California advocacy efforts and serving as a trusted voice on water quality, safe drinking water, and sustainable treatment solutions across the state.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SIGN UP NOW FOR PWQA VIRTUAL WEBINAR - APRIL 23

Join us on Thursday, April 23 at 4 pm for an informative virtual program on “The Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Drinking Water Supplies.”

Also known publicly as Chromium 6, Chromate or "the Erin Brockovich carcinogen", this WQA-accredited educational session will explore the “why” and “where” behind hexavalent chromium concerns, including current regulations—especially in California. We will review key point-of-entry (POE) and point-of-use (POU) treatment methods, with a primary focus on ion exchange technology.

Led by Francis DeSilva, ResinTech Inc. and Clifford Fasnacht, Pacific Purification, the discussion will also address an important and often less-defined topic: residuals management, including safe and legal methods of spent resin and regenerate waste removal and disposal.

This event is FREE for all to attend. Please RSVP below:

WQA CONVENTION & EXPO

Date: April 28-30, 2026

Location: Miami Beach, Florida

The WQA Convention & Expo provides valuable education sessions from the latest updates on PFAS and other contaminants to instructive business operations sessions on the best ways to manage a growing business. Network with industry peers, learn from the pros, and more.

PWQA TRAINING EVENT

Date: July 24, 2026

Location: PACE Supply

1500 Valley House Dr Suite #200, Rohnert Park, CA

PWQA will be hosting a Summer Training Event is on Friday, July 24th at PACE Supply location in Northern California. Save the date and stay tuned for more information.

SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 23 - 25, 2026!

PWQA 69TH ANNUAL TRADE SHOW & CONVENTON

Date: September 23 - 25, 2026

Location: Rancho Bernardo Inn,

17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego, CA

Mark Your Calendar! September 23 - 25, 2026. We'll be back at the same venue for our next Trade Show & Convention—Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego. Sponsorship and registrations information will be out soon! Stay tuned!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO TOOK THE PWQA SURVEY

We are grateful for your participation and are impressed with the amount of feedback and responses we received. We’ll be sharing more on how we plan on implementing these changes and suggestions in the next newsletter. —PWQA Board 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR PWQA COMMITTEES

We would love to have you on board!

We invite you to volunteer your time and expertise by serving on one of our committees. Whether you’re interested in leadership, outreach, education, or event planning, your support plays an important role in advancing our mission.

Committee opportunities include:

• Membership Committee
• Nominating Committee
• Awards, Marketing & Public Relations Committee
• Newsletter Committee
• Educational / Technical / Licensing Committee
• Legislative Committee
• Convention Committee
• Scholarship Committee

No matter your level of availability, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful impact. We encourage you to get involved and help shape the future of our organization.