CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - As part of California’s sixth annual Water Professionals Appreciation Week, Carmichael Water District (CWD) is proud to take a moment and highlight the essential role of water professionals and local public water agencies in providing water services. 

We appreciate the dedication of our highly trained operators, technicians, administrative professionals, and all of our specialists who are making sure our community has safe and reliable drinking water, especially amidst an extended drought and pandemic. 

Water Professionals Appreciation Week was created in 2017 to highlight the important role of water industry professionals and local public water agencies in ensuring safe and reliable tap water for California. There are so many careers in water that keep water flowing in the communities throughout California, including district managers, customer service representatives, accountants, human resource professionals, IT professionals, treatment plant operators, distribution operators, water efficiency specialists, and engineers to name a few. CWD is proud of our staff and water professionals throughout the state for making a difference in their community. Be sure to check our website, carmichaelwd.org, for more information on our amazing staff and the essential roles they play. 

Essential. Reliable. Invaluable. Water—it’s the thread that weaves together our daily lives. It keeps our communities healthy, our cities running, and our economies growing. Water is a cup of coffee, the produce aisle, better production, increased exports, and greater American strength. While essential, water infrastructure is largely invisible. Few people realize what it takes to treat and deliver drinking water every day or how wastewater is cleaned so that it can be safely reused or returned to the environment. The high quality of life we enjoy in America would not be possible without water, the infrastructure that fuels it, and water professionals’ dedication to provide this essential service. 

It is because of our staff who have invested their time and talents that CWD is able to implement successful water supply reliability and system improvements as exemplified by the 3 million gallon La Vista Water Storage Tank Replacement project and the forthcoming grant funded La Sierra Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Well project. The ASR well project will not only help CWD balance surface and groundwater supplies but will also provide the benefit of enabling access of up to 1,200 acre-feet of previously banked groundwater. Through two successful grant applications, prepared by CWD staff, a $4 million and a $2 million grant award will help bolster CWD’s drought resiliency while allowing us to focus ratepayer driven funding towards other essential drought resiliency projects, including a second ASR well. Leveraging District funds with State and Federal grants in sustainable infrastructure projects allows CWD to mitigate and reduce future unfunded infrastructure liabilities. CWD staff’s focus on upholding our fiduciary responsibilities enhances the value of our water, keeping our community healthy and helping the local economy grow. 

CWD is committed to pro-actively planning continuous improvements to our water reliability and drought resiliency, providing a sustainable water supply for future generations in the face of ever-increasing challenges from persistent drought conditions and potential climate change impacts. CWD staff has developed a robust Capital Improvement Plan, with approval by our Board of Directors, with project details contained within our District Budget that can be viewed at https://carmichaelwd.org/wp 

content/uploads/2022/07/1-CWD-Budget-Fiscal-Year-2022-2023-updated-7.20.22.pdf.

Water service is essential to the health and success of our community and Water Professionals Appreciation Week is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the vital services CWD staff perform. If you see CWD workers out and about this week, or if you stop by our office, be sure you say “thank you” to our staff for working 24/7 to ensure safe and reliable water deliveries.