In October 2023, water officials and stakeholders celebrated the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA), the largest water conservation and transfer agreement in U.S. history, which continues to provide water security for San Diego and the broader Southwest. Water officials from across the Southwest signed the agreement in 2003, and to this day, the QSA supplies more half of the water for San Diego’s 3.3 million residents and $268 billion economy by securing more than 30 million acre-feet of conserved water over several decades. The QSA has stabilized California’s reliance on Colorado River water and pioneered voluntary conservation practices, ensuring efficient water use while addressing environmental challenges like the Salton Sea. The landmark agreement remains a model for the rest of the Colorado River basin, as an example for how to implement water-use efficiency in a manner that protects both agriculture and the environment.

The Water Authority and Moulton Niguel Water District in March 2024 announced joint efforts to assess a potential transfer of drought-resilient water supplies to South Orange County, formalized through a three-year Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement focuses on transferring supplies from the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant to support more than 170,000 customers in Moulton Niguel’s service area. The partnership aligns with both agencies’ goals of enhancing water reliability amidst rising rates and climate challenges. For the Water Authority, the agreement reinforced its commitment to leveraging existing investments in drought-resilient supplies to benefit both San Diego and the broader Southern California region.

FY24 was marked by renewed relations between two of the largest water agencies in California – the Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). In May 2024, Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz, Vice Chair Nick Serrano, and General Manager Dan Denham kicked off MWD Chair Adan Ortega’s “series of goodwill” events with agency leaders. Denham addressed the MWD board, focusing on an era for partnerships, cooperation, and regional thinking to solve shared challenges “shoulder-to-shoulder.” The Water Authority also partnered with MWD to host a tour for Northern California leaders and highlight Southern California’s investments in water use efficiency and supply reliability. In addition, the Water Authority’s MWD delegates continued to serve in leadership positions on the MWD board. And Water Authority Director Ismahan Abdullahi joined Denham to discusses water affordability considerations during a panel held at MWD’s Equity, Inclusion, and Affordability Committee meeting in August 2023.

The Colorado River continued to experience slightly improved conditions in FY 24, bolstered by a second year of winter storms and by voluntary water conservation, largely implemented by California, Arizona, and Nevada. This resulted in the lowest Lower Basin states’ annual consumptive use since the 1980s and helped protect California’s water supplies from mandated reductions. The Water Authority continued to collaboratively develop consensus-based solutions to help the river in the near-term and long-term in a way that protects the San Diego region’s supplies and California’s senior rights while ensuring the river continues to serve all users. Through the Lower Basin’s conservation efforts and improved hydrology, Lake Mead saw an elevation increase that enabled the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to positively adjust Lake Mead operations from a Level 2 shortage condition in 2023 down to a Level 1 shortage condition in 2024. The shift lessened reductions to Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. California was not affected by the reductions implemented under these shortages because of its senior rights.

In August 2022, the Water Authority’s Board of Directors appointed of David J. Edwards as the agency’s general counsel. Following a nationwide search, Edwards’ 17 years of experience in public service in water and environmental issues set him apart. In his previous position as deputy city attorney and lead counsel for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Edwards gained a breadth of experience and expertise in water and natural resource rights, wildlife and water protection, power and public utility/agency issues.

In June 2024, the Water Authority strengthened its relationships beyond local borders by assisting the City of Calgary, Canada, with an urgent infrastructure need. After a major water main break, Calgary reached out across North America for help. The Water Authority quickly responded by supplying two 24-foot sections of 77-inch pipe from its reserves to support repairs. The pipes, weighing about 12,500 pounds, were sent on a multi-day journey to Calgary, accompanied by well-wishes from the Water Authority team. This collaboration not only provided vital support to a fellow city in need but also reinforced the importance of mutual aid and partnership in addressing infrastructure challenges. The quick response garnered messages of gratitude from people across Canada. It not only generated massive positive media attention for the Water Authority, but it provided an example of proactive asset management in an era of tight budgets and aging infrastructure.

The Water Authority hosted three Citizens Water Academy class series – two for civic leaders and one for employees and member agency staff – during FY24. Member agency staff that participated were from Padre Dam Municipal Water District, City of Escondido, City of San Diego, Vista Irrigation District, and City of Carlsbad. In spring 2024, the Public Affairs Department unveiled a board game to help participants understand the challenges of rate setting -- an instant hit. With more than 800 alumni, the Water Academy continues to serve its purpose of creating an informed and engaged public. To further that goal, the Water Authority began to re-engage its CWA alumni network by planning alumni events and increasing digital communications for the year ahead.

In fall 2023, the Water Authority wrapped up its public outreach and education campaign called “Thanks for Planting Me!” The campaign expressed gratitude for residents who already transformed their landscapes using native and low-water plants, and it showcased resources for supporting sustainable landscapes that prepare the region for a hotter and drier climate. The grant-supported campaign appeared in a variety of digital, print, and outdoor advertising platforms in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. In total, it generated more than 29 million impressions, nearly 50,000 pageviews, and 3,000 positive ad reactions on social media.

Through a grant-funded initiative, the Water Authority installed more than 5,000 high-efficiency toilets at no cost for income-qualifying residents and those in under-represented communities. The program was supported by more than $4 million in grants from the California Department of Water Resources and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. At the end of the fiscal year, the Water Authority still had enough grant money to replace approximately 4,000 more outdated toilets and provide smart irrigation controllers to local residents at no charge. This effort aims to enhance water-use efficiency and reduce water bills for mobile home communities, multi-family units and eligible single-family homes.

To increase understanding and support for the Water Authority mission, the agency significantly boosted outreach for the Capital Improvement Program projects during the fiscal year, particularly related to the Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement Project that stretches 21 miles through North County. Outreach on construction projects included extensive one-on-one, small group and media communications in both English and Spanish. In addition, the Water Authority used worksite signs, social media, newsletters, interactive website maps and other tools to get the word out about critical upgrades.

In December 2023, the Water Authority earned a prestigious international engineering award for using an innovative construction technology to raise the historic San Vicente Dam – a project that concluded in 2014 to ensure regional water security for generations of San Diegans. Meeting in Guangzhou, China, the International Commission on Large Dams presented the Water Authority with its highest honor for a special type of construction called roller compacted concrete, or RCC. That method simplified construction at San Vicente Dam to save time and money on a structure capable of withstanding a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

In FY24, the Water Authority’s Information Systems team upgraded the agency’s business system firewalls to ensure the highest level of security is maintained to protect against potential external cybersecurity threats. This is a measure that the IS team implements consistently to secure the agency’s network infrastructure as cyber threats increasingly target utilities across the nation.

The Water Authority received national honors for its water conservation efforts, earning both the 2023 Utility Innovation Award from the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the 2023 WaterSense Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Utility Innovation Award highlights the multi-benefit water-use efficiency incentive program developed in partnership with the County of San Diego. The program funds educational initiatives and technical assistance for sustainable landscaping. Additionally, the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) program, which certified nearly 460 participants since 2016 and includes bilingual training for Spanish speakers, was also honored. These accolades underscore the Water Authority’s commitment to enhancing water efficiency and sustainability in the San Diego region.

The Water Authority was awarded “Best Project” by Engineering News-Record for the First Aqueduct Treated Water Tunnels Rehabilitation Project, which successfully prevented groundwater infiltration into the treated water supply using an innovative design-build method. Additionally, the Water Authority earned the “Project Achievement Award for Public Works Project Greater than $15 Million” for the Mission Trails Flow Regulatory Structure II and Flow Control Facility Project, enhancing capacity within the untreated water system.

The Water Authority received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 24th straight year, highlighting the Water Authority’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

The Water Authority received the 2024 Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for the 11th consecutive year, recognizing the agency’s leadership and innovation in procurement practices. This honor, awarded by the National Procurement Institute, highlights the Water Authority’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, making it one of only 48 agencies in California and 198 across North America to receive this distinction.

In September 2023, the Water Authority was recognized with Climate Registered Gold status by the Climate Registry for verifying and publicly reporting its greenhouse gas emissions, an effort that fosters transparency for the agency’s climate mitigation initiatives and helps track and validate emissions reductions in the future. This marked the fourth consecutive year that the Water Authority earned the gold status. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a key part of the Water Authority’s Climate Action Plan.

For the sixth consecutive year, Water Authority’s Water News Network website was recognized as the Best Public Service/Consumer Advocacy Website for its public outreach and education at the San Diego Press Club’s 50th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards. Among the largest annual competitions of its kind in the United States, the Excellence in Journalism Awards recognize San Diego’s finest reporters, photographers, writers, artists, and communicators. The Water News Network was awarded first place as the Best Public Service or Consumer Advocacy Website. The WNN has won the award every year since the website launched in 2018.