EMWD Appoints Veteran Water Leader Phil Paule to Metropolitan Board of Directors

Perris, CA (December 17, 2025) – Longtime Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) Board Member Phil Paule has been selected as the organization’s new delegate to serve on The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) Board of Directors.

Paule replaces EMWD Board Member Jeff Armstrong, who announced earlier this month that he would step down from the Metropolitan Board of Directors to spend more time with his family. Paule will be sworn in at the next Metropolitan Board of Directors meeting. Armstrong will remain on EMWD’s Board, where he represents the Perris and Menifee areas.

"I appreciate this board entrusting me with this responsibility," Paule said. "EMWD has a long history of leadership and expertise on local and statewide water issues, and I will lean on my colleagues on this board and our staff for their knowledge so that I may best serve our customers. I know California’s water future has many big challenges, and I look forward to working with Metropolitan and our sister agencies to address those challenges."

Paule has served on EMWD’s Board of Directors since 2007 and has served multiple terms as Board President. He represents Division 1, which includes the eastern, northern, and southern portions of the City of Murrieta, the southwest portion of the City of Moreno Valley, a northern portion of the City of Perris, and the unincorporated areas of French Valley, Winchester, Diamond Valley, Homeland, Juniper Flats, Nuevo, Lakeview, Gilman Hot Springs, and Green Acres.

Paule has worked in various levels of government for more than three decades. He currently serves as Chief of Staff for a local elected official.

Metropolitan is the regional wholesale water provider that serves 19 million people across six Southern California counties. It imports water from the State Water Project and Colorado River Aqueduct and is the nation’s largest water agency. It’s Board of Directors consists of 38 individuals representing 26 member agencies. 

EMWD receives nearly half of its water supplies from Metropolitan and is its fastest-growing member agency. EMWD’s service area represents more than 12 percent of Metropolitan’s 5,500 square mile geographic footprint.

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 682-square mile service area in western Riverside County and northern San Diego County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency, and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” More information can be found at www.emwd.org.