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EMWD Honors Sen. Feinstein with Water Champion Award

Press Release
EMWD General Manager Paul Jones, Senator Dianne Feinstein, EMWD President Ron Sullivan, EMWD's Jolene Walshand EMWD

Perris, CA (March 12, 2020) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) today announced that United States Senator Dianne Feinstein has been awarded its Water Champion Award.

The EMWD Water Champion Award is presented to an individual who shows exemplary service in helping EMWD achieve its mission of providing clean, reliable water, wastewater and recycled water management services for residents of western Riverside County.

“Senator Feinstein has been a valuable and trusted champion for California water issues throughout her career in Washington,” EMWD President Ron Sullivan said. “Her trusted voice has helped advance significant water infrastructure investments and resulted in a more sustainable water supply future for all Californians.

“EMWD is incredibly appreciative of its partnership with Senator Feinstein and her advocacy work has helped advance a variety of programs and projects in EMWD’s service area to the benefit of our ratepayers and our water supplies.”

Feinstein has long served as a champion for EMWD and California water issues in Washington, D.C., and has worked to advocate for increased funding for the United States Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Infrastructure projects, including EMWD’s South Perris Desalination program. Feinstein has voiced her support to double the original authorization for EMWD to $50 million.

EMWD also recognized longtime Feinstein staff member John Watts for the role he has played in serving as an advocate for state and federal water issues to improve water supply resiliency in California.

Feinstein has also worked to support the United States Bureau of Reclamation’s Title XVI program that helps support recycled water programs through the Water Infrastructure Investments for the Nation Act in 2016.

Past winners of the EMWD Water Champion Award include former State Senator Bill Emmerson, United States Bureau of Reclamation area manager Bill Steele, California Governor Jerry Brown, former Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, Congressman Ken Calvert and Assemblywoman Anna Caballero.

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to approximately 839,000 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 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.