MET Water District Appoints Shivaji Deshmukh Next General Manager
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan), the largest drinking water provider in the United States, has named Shivaji Deshmukh as its next general manager following a unanimous vote by the agency’s board of directors.

Deshmukh, a veteran water leader with more than 25 years of experience in water management and recycling, will succeed retiring general manager Deven Upadhyay to become Metropolitan’s 16th general manager in its nearly century-long history.

Deshmukh currently serves as general manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency and previously held leadership roles at West Basin and Orange County Water District, where he helped develop the Groundwater Replenishment System, one of California’s largest recycled water projects. Read more here, congratulations from the CASA staff, Shivaji!

 

IEUA’s 75th Anniversary Celebrated Through Open House and Career Fair
On Thursday, October 16, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA/Agency) hosted an Open House and Career Fair in honor of the Agency’s 75thanniversary. Approximately 350 community members attended the event to take part in festivities that not only engaged attendees on IEUA’s programs and services, but also provided connections to careers at IEUA for all ages.

“This event helped serve as a critical gateway for the next generation of water professionals,” stated IEUA Board President Marco Tule. “By connecting our community to meaningful career opportunities in the water industry while honoring the legacy and progress of the past 75 years, we can lay the foundation for future innovation and work together towards long-term water reliability throughout the region.”

Following IEUA’s year-long theme of Celebrating 75 Years of Partnership and Progress, the free, family-friendly event featured food trucks, educational activities for kids, touch-a-truck demonstrations, giveaways, networking opportunities to connect with industry professionals, and mock interview opportunities for attendees. Staff throughout the Agency came together to host 15 interactive booths with engaging demonstrations and activities highlighting the wastewater treatment process, including a homemade treatment plant model, Collections operations, Maintenance tools and equipment, IT initiatives, educational programs, ongoing projects, and more.

“IEUA prides itself on providing essential services in a regionally planned and cost-effective manner, while safeguarding public health, supporting community needs, and protecting the environment,” continued Tule. “We are proud to showcase our commitment to public service by celebrating with the same community who has grown with us over the years. Thank you to everyone who joined us last week and contributed to the event’s success.”