Meet the CASA Board: 2025-2026 CASA Vice President, Rita Duncan
Rita Duncan currently serves on the Oro Loma Sanitary District Board of Directors Chair of the Solid Waste Committee and a member of the Board’s Finance Committee. Appointed in January 2016, she is the first African American to serve on the District’s Board in its 105-year history She is also currently on the Board of Directors for the Alameda County Wast Management Authority. In 2018 Rita was appointed to the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) Federal Legislative Committee and currently serves as Vice President on the CASA Board of Directors.

Rita brings over 30 years of professional experience in human resources, performance management, employee training, workplace safety, wellness, and organizational development—with a focus on interpersonal and group dynamics. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University and facilitator training from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

What are some of your passions or hobbies outside of your work?
I’m passionate about three things. First and foremost, spending quality time with my four grandchildren—Kaliyah (21), Jaylah (14), Lilyana (9), and Miles (1½). They are my legacy, and I strive to teach them how powerful they are, helping them understand they shape their reality through their thoughts and choices. I’m also passionate about living an abundant, joyful life, which I nurture daily through meditation and swimming.

Who has influenced your leadership style the most?
Michael O’Brien, the VP of Operations at a Fortune 500 company where I previously worked, had the greatest influence on my leadership style. He taught me the importance of leading with integrity and showing respect to all individuals, regardless of their role in the organization. Most importantly, he instilled in me the awareness that leadership decisions affect people’s lives and families—and should be made with compassion and responsibility.

What’s your background, and how does it relate to the work of our organization?
I hold a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. I also received Interpersonal Dynamics Facilitation training from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. I previously served as Human Resources Director for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company based in Menlo Park, overseeing 300 employees. Through both education and experience, I’ve learned that strong relationships and clearly defined metrics are essential to achieving goals. As a CASA Board member, I bring that relational and results-oriented perspective to every discussion and decision.

 

CASA’s 70th Annual Conference Recap: A Celebration to Remember!

CASA’s 70th Annual Conference in San Diego was a memorable event, bringing together clean water professionals for three days of networking, learning, and celebration. Held from July 30 to August 1 at the Marriott Marquis, this year’s conference offered a unique opportunity to reflect on CASA’s remarkable history while looking toward the future of clean water. The theme, “CASA at 70: Honoring Our Past, Shaping the Future” celebrated seven decades of progress with engaging programs, special anniversary events, and valuable connections among peers.

Highlights from Special 70th Anniversary Events

Generous Contributions to the CASA Education Foundation
Thanks to your generous donations, we are thrilled to announce that over $12,000 has been added to the CASA Education Foundation scholarship fund as a result of the Annual Conference fundraising efforts. Your support is truly making a difference!

Professional Headshots
It was great to see so many attendees take advantage of the free professional headshots offered during the conference. All images have been sent out. If you haven’t received yours yet, please reach out to Shacara Gamboa at sgamboa@casaweb.org for assistance.

Event Photos
Check out the amazing photos from the conference! You can view and download them here using the pin: 8225.

Celebrating Milestones
In addition to celebrating CASA’s 70th anniversary, we also recognized the significant milestones of several agencies that have made long-lasting contributions to the clean water industry. If you didn’t pick up your commemorative plaque, please contact Alyssa at adowns@casaweb.org.

Looking Ahead

With a mix of engaging sessions, memorable anniversary events, and a focus on the next 70 years, CASA’s 70th Annual Conference was a huge success. We are already looking forward to next year’s event, but for now, we’re grateful for the connections made and the moments shared with our CASA membership. Thank you to all who attended, and we look forward to seeing you at the CASA Winter Conference in Palm Springs this January!

Pure Water San Diego Tour 

During CASA’s 70th Anniversary Conference, attendees had an opportunity to tour the Pure Water San Diego facility and witness first-hand what goes into this water purification process. CASA staff, Jessica Gauger and Maile Lono-Batura, were able to tag along on the tour.

Pure Water San Diego Fun Facts:

  • San Diego only receives 1% of their water from groundwater sources. 85% of the City’s water is imported from the Colorado River. Pure Water San Diego aims to provide a significant portion of water supply by 2035.
  • The 1-million-gallon-per-day demonstration facility has been in operation since 2011 as a research facility that can help shape regulations. The water is currently piped through the recycled water system for irrigation and industrial uses across the city.
  • Following the five steps of purification (ozonation, biological activated carbon filters, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation), the water is so pure that minerals need to be added back before it can be piped to Miramar Reservoir.

Thank you to the team at the City of San Diego for hosting the tour and tasting for CASA members. Feeling like you missed out? Take a virtual tour of the facility here.

CASA Celebrates 2025 Awards of Excellence Winners

Congratulations to the recipients of CASA’s 2025 Awards of Excellence! CASA is proud to recognize the hard work your agencies do to provide an invaluable service to California communities. To see the full list of award applicants and a description of their projects, be sure to check out the Awards Brochure. Interested in submitting your project? Mark your calendar! We will begin accepting applications for the 2026 Awards of Excellence in March: CASA Awards Program. Check out this year’s winners below:

Excellence in Innovation and Resiliency

  • Small Agency: Ross Valley Sanitary District
    Computerized Maintenance Management System

Public Outreach and Education

 Organizational Excellence

  • Orange County Sanitation District
    OC San Employee Development Program

Outstanding Capital Project

Michael F. Dillon Public Service Award
We are thrilled to announce that Sharon Green, the Legislative & Regulatory Programs Manager at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, was honored with the Michael F. Dillon Public Service Award during the CASA Annual Conference. This award, established by the CASA Board of Directors in recognition of Michael Dillon, CASA’s longtime Executive Director and Lobbyist who retired at the end of 2023, celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding public service within the wastewater sector. Sharon has been a dedicated member of CASA for many years, serving on the State and Federal Legislative Committees, and many other projects and workgroups. Congratulations to Sharon on this well-deserved recognition!

2025 Education Foundation Scholarship Recipients
The CASA Education Foundation (CEF) was formed to enhance the future of California’s clean water community by attracting new professionals into the clean water sector through scholarships. This year, the CEF presented $5,000 scholarships to four worthy students, including the fourth annual Bruce Wolfe scholarship. Learn more about the scholarship recipients and view their thank you videos below:

Peter Otoshi
Peter Otoshi is a rising fourth-year Civil Engineering student at Cal Poly Pomona with a passion for serving people around the world through creative and compassionate water solutions. He currently is a Civil Design Intern for Craftwater and has previously interned with LACSD and LADWP, providing design and construction support for capital improvement projects throughout Southern California. Peter has contributed research on drinking water defluoridation systems in the Middle East and spent the past summer in Nigeria serving side by side with a global team of professionals to drill boreholes and develop sustainable strategies. A part of numerous professional engineering organizations, he loves to learn and makes no effort to conceal his enthusiasm about water. He focused on water supply and recovery as part of his school’s ASCE Sustainable Solutions competition team this year. Outside of school, he is actively involved in his church and he loves spending time outdoors. You might catch him playing a round of disc golf, throwing a football on the beach, or jamming out on the guitar with his friends. 

Claudia Colorado
Claudia Colorado is a rising senior at the University of California, Davis, double majoring in Managerial Economics and English with an emphasis in Agribusiness. Originally from El Salvador and raised in Guatemala, Claudia is passionate about sustainability, food systems, and public service. As a College Corps Fellow and Student Lead Farmer at the UC Davis Student Farm, she works at the intersection of agriculture, community, and environmental justice. She plans to pursue a career in financial coordination within sustainability and nonprofit sectors, where she can help direct resources to projects that nourish both people and the planet.

Noelle Kim
Noelle Kim is an incoming first-year at the California Institute of Technology, where she plans to study interdisciplinary engineering and contribute to environmentally focused research initiatives. She first found her passion for water sustainability by competing in the Academic Decathlon, where she studied the national theme “Water: A Most Essential Resource” in 2021-22. She has since dedicated herself to clean water advocacy through research, invention, and education, and she has been recognized as a Pete Conrad Scholar for her work in developing new technologies that promote sustainability. Noelle is committed to using her passion for engineering and public outreach to protect our planet’s most precious resources.

Safa Iqbal
Bruce Wolfe Recipient
Safa Iqbal is an Atmospheric Science major at UC Davis, focusing on Environmental and Agricultural Science. Her passion for clean water and sustainability began with hands-on gardening and community volunteering. In high school, she led the Tides of Change environmental club, raising awareness about climate change and water conservation. She has been a teaching assistant in a Sustainable Environmental Design course, gaining experience in water-efficient irrigation and regenerative land use. Safa aims to become an environmental consultant or water systems specialist, committed to creating climate-adaptive solutions and making sure there is clean water access for all.

Hear more from the scholarship recipients in their thank-you videos linked here.