Perris, CA (July 26, 2018) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) has recently expanded its clean energy fleet as part of its effort toward both reducing its carbon footprint and to adapt to a changing regulatory environment for vehicle emissions.

EMWD recently purchased three new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered Vactor trucks to support its wastewater collections operations. A Vactor truck is similar to a giant Shop-Vac on wheels and is used to help clean and maintain the sewer system.

The three new Vactor trucks will join an expanding list of alternative fuel vehicles. EMWD will take possession of another six CNG vehicles during the 2018-19 fiscal year. Those vehicles include three heavy duty service trucks, two heavy duty dump trucks and one water tanker.

EMWD’s vehicle fleet also includes a fully-electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and three more plug-in hybrids are on order.

More clean-energy vehicles will be transitioned into the fleet as existing vehicles reach the end of their useful lifespan and must be replaced. The new alternative fuel vehicles also help ensure EMWD meets evolving state and regional regulatory requirements for heavy duty fleet vehicles. Those requirements mandate that all new heavy duty vehicles use alternative fuel sources.

To power the vehicles, EMWD is using publically accessible CNG charging stations and is working with the Southern California Gas Company to use a proposed facility nearly adjacent to EMWD’s Main Office. EMWD also has a 10-port electric vehicle charging station at its Main Office.

“EMWD is committed to being an environmentally responsible agency, and that includes investing in fleet vehicles that further reduce our carbon footprint,” EMWD President David Slawson said. “Our alternative fuel vehicles allow us to reduce fuel costs and remain compliant with an ever-changing regulatory environment.”

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to approximately 816,000 people living and working within a 555-square mile service area in western Riverside County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency and its mission is “To deliver value to our 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.